Proposals for Free Public Colleges are Popular with Democratic Primary Candidates

[MineralMan]

Back in the early to late 1960s, when I attended college, we had such a thing. State colleges in California were heavily subsidized by the taxpayers of that state. There was no tuition in the California State College System, and very low tuition in the University system in that state. Even dorms and meal plans were heavily subsidized at the time.

That went away, with Ronald Reagan as Governor. He set a new standard, which was adopted across the nation.

Back in the no tuition days, taxpayers were used to subsidizing higher education. The tax system in California, as well as the Federal Tax system, were quite progressive, with taxation rates on income much, much higher for the wealthy than for the average person. Ronald Reagan and other Republicans, though, discovered that tax cuts for the wealthy led to much increased campaign funding, and "Bob's your uncle!" - No more subsidies for higher education.

What was put into play in the 1970s and later has pretty much put paid to the use of public funds for things like education. Those who benefited like the new ways, and fight hard against any going back to the old days of progressive taxation.

Some Democrats running for the presidency are sort of suggesting going back with their "free" college plans and "free" healthcare initiatives. They sound really good to most working people, but the wealthy and the corporations know who's going to be paying for those idea, and they don't like it one bit. It's much cheaper for them to massively fund campaigns for Republicans than to pay higher taxes in the future, so that's what they do.

Our candidates don't talk a lot about who will end up paying. They should. It's easy enough to understand. But, they're afraid to raise the ire of the wealthy. They shouldn't be. Fuck the wealthy! Let them pay, like they used to do, back when I went to college! That's how you do it, and it's the only way you can do it. So lay it out there. We'll vote for it.

[redqueen]

1. Another point - what were college expenses like back then?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm fairly certain they've skyrocketed since then.

[MineralMan]

2. Hmm...yes, they have all gone up a lot.

But, inflation has raised the cost of everything, really. In 1963, when I started college, you could buy a brand new basic car or pickup for about $1200, too. In 2020, that car will cost you about $15,000. Of course, I drove a car that I paid $100 for back then.

In 1969, when I returned to college, my brother and I rented a crappy 2-bedroom house for just $92.50 per month. Today, the rent for such a house would be in the $1500 range.

So, yes, college expenses have skyrocketed, but so have other costs. College students, though, are still often short of money, just like we were then, but you could scrape up enough to attend back then, if you cut corners deeply.

[redqueen]

3. Except

[Act_of_Reparation]

4. No way.

Cost of higher ed cannot be explained by inflation alone.