DEMOCRATS ARE HOLDING BACK THE ECONOMY BY NOT ADVOCATING FOR FREE COLLEGE

[kristopher]

DEMOCRATS ARE HOLDING BACK THE ECONOMY BY NOT ADVOCATING FOR FREE COLLEGE

February 19, 2016 12:30 pm Nick Cassella Economics, Policy

After endorsing Hillary Clinton, Representative Jim Clyburn (D-SC) thought it righteous and necessary to come out against the idea of free college – a clear response to Bernie Sanders’ “socialist” proposal. Here are Clyburn’s incredibly shallow, ahisotrical, and insulting reasons to deny such a right:

Well, let me put it this way. I do not believe there are any free lunches and certainly there’s not going to be any free education. I have made the White House aware of my disenchantment with the proposal they came out with because I do believe we ought to make education affordable. But I think for you to believe that they’re going to make education free, I don’t think that’s going to happen, not in my lifetime, and not in my children’s lifetime.

What a dreamer.

Seriously though, Clyburn’s comments are very disappointing. They come at a time where the average student now exits college with $35,051 in student debt. Combine these record levels of debt with stagnant wages and rising tuition and you wonder what world Clyburn is living in. How does he find the gall to tell young people that there isn’t such a thing as a “free lunch?” Tell that to Wall Street. Or the American auto industry.

Believe me, young people in America know they aren’t getting a free lunch. While Clyburn and many Congressional Democrats advocate for lowering student interest rates to 4.5 percent (oh goodie!), do they not recognize that such policy prescriptions have almost no inspirational quality? How will that stop college tuition from increasing year after year? How will that ease the burden of ever-expanding student debt?

As we often say here at Civic Skunk Works, civic innovation must keep pace with the times. If it does not, our society falls behind. We don’t get the outcomes we desire. Clyburn and Clinton need to recognize that reality as they lecture young people about college affordability.

Ultimately, Democrats like them are trying to pretend that lowering interest rates on student loans is an honest solution to student debt. It’s not...

http://civicskunkworks.com/democrats-are-holding-back-the-economy-by-not-making-college-free/

[Stallion]

1. Yeah Because It Would Breeze Through a Republican Congress

[valerief]

4. Ha! Right, like the Dems are the true villains. nt

[kristopher]

5. Yeah, remember when they took it to the people to challenge the Republicans?

Neither do I.

Even though it is unquestionably what the people want!!!

But, they never ran on that as a party, did they? Do you know why? Because the financial institutions are running up the biggest debt bubble in history with student loans. How much does indentured servitude help the economy?

But that is what is happening now - Bernie is taking it to the people and the people are going to support him and HIS Democratic party.

[Bradical79]

7. Nice to know Democrats have given up on congress

Let's face it, nothing worthwhile gets through a Republican congress. Obviously, we can't stop with electing Sanders president. Something will have to be done about establishment Democrats' near total failures at every other level of government too.

[angrychair]

2. Small criticism

We need to repackage of terms.
Please say "debt free" not "free" big difference. One is possible and one is not.

[kristopher]

6. Free works fine. No one thinks society isn't going to pay.

It isn't deception, it is simple conversational shorthand.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. Money for cluster bombs though

which Hillary voted for

[Downwinder]

8. If "old" Europe can do it, why can't "exceptional" America?

[kristopher]

9. We can... But will we? Or will it be the audacity of nope.