Social policy matters: millionaire pays for childcare, tuition, everyone benefits

[joshcryer]

Millionaire uses fortune to help kids in struggling town

Rosen, 73, began his philanthropic efforts by paying for day care for parents in Tangelo Park, a community of about 3,000 people. When those children reached high school, he created a scholarship program in which he offered to pay free tuition to Florida state colleges for any students in the neighborhood.

In the two decades since starting the programs, Rosen has donated nearly $10 million, and the results have been remarkable. The high school graduation rate is now nearly 100 percent, and some property values have quadrupled. The crime rate has been cut in half, according to a study by the University of Central Florida.

This sort of social policy can have remarkable effects for very little cost. And it just so happens that Democrats support free higher education and free child care.

These are two themes you will see a lot of in the 2016 election. They're really simple on the face of it and quite affordable.

[MaggieD]

1. But I thought we were supposed to hate millionaires

What happened?

[joshcryer]

2. Eh, most wouldn't do something like this.

This isn't a defense of millionaires, this is proof that simple low cost redistribution makes great social policy.