Students protest for free education, how do you feel about this?

2015-11-16T20:40:33-05:00

I recently shared a post on the million student march protest for free higher education. I understand that this would cause tremendous issues with taxes, job competitiveness inflation, etc...
I got negative comments about sharing and supporting this issue. Free tuition I'm ok with but the rest is over baring.
What are your thoughts, and please share your professional view to help my self and others understand this hot topic.
https://www.facebook.com/ajplusenglish/videos/ [login to see] 15932/

AJ+ - #MillionStudentMarch Against Student Debt | Facebook

College students across the U.S. rally for tuition-free public college, debt cancellation and a $15/hr minimum wage for campus workers.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2015 8:45 PM

2015-11-16T20:45:47-05:00

How do you propose to pay for "free" tuition? At the end of the day nothing is free and we have less people skilled at actually contributing to society than we did 30-40 years ago. I for one feel as if I am not as intergral to society as someone who can turn the proper wrenches or fix the proper pipe. Skilled labor is a dieing trade in our society.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2015 8:46 PM

2015-11-16T20:46:30-05:00

*Misspelled millennials

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Nov 16 at 2015 8:48 PM

2015-11-16T20:48:36-05:00

I know a way to pay for a full ride to university....

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 16 at 2015 9:10 PM

2015-11-16T21:10:24-05:00

What these geniuses fail to realize is that nothing is free.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2015 9:24 PM

2015-11-16T21:24:19-05:00

1 year free education=3 years military service, and that lets the "free loaders" off cheap.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2015 9:31 PM

2015-11-16T21:31:09-05:00

One factor that a lot of people tend to forget is that making a free education will only bring more competitiveness within schools. Coming from the French education system, and after spending a year in law school (in France one goes to law/med school after high school upon acceptance) I learned that cheap tuition would not solve all problems. You can't have an enormous flow of new students without thinking about raising standards.

In French public law schools, tuition for a year is roughly a thousand dollars. However, only 1/4 make it thought sophomore year. Once again, there is a trade-off between equality and efficiency. Which one would you rather pick?

Response by PO1 Aaron Baltosser made Nov 16 at 2015 9:37 PM

2015-11-16T21:37:13-05:00

When you just give with no financial or intellectual investment from the student, they are not 'married' to the result. If they want something, let them work for it. Why on earth do they think they rate any money earned by someone else to pay their bills?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2015 9:50 PM

2015-11-16T21:50:10-05:00

Sounds like a parenting fail. There is nothing free in this world. NOTHING!

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Nov 16 at 2015 9:55 PM

2015-11-16T21:55:02-05:00

There is no such thing as a free education. Someone has to pay for it and in this case, it will be the tax payers. And what do they get in return? Does someone with a B.A. in Gender Studies really contribute to society? If we have "free" education, there is no one holding the students responsible on their end for becoming productive members of society. The only way I would support any kind of free education is with some kind of payback just like an ROTC scholarship. So in a sense it would not be free but a transaction.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Nov 16 at 2015 10:07 PM

2015-11-16T22:07:59-05:00

They are not protesting for "free" education. They ARE protesting for education at someone else's expense. They are also selfishly calling for the cancellation of ALL Student loans, which they contractually agreed to repay.
The Constitution does not allow for ANY Federal intervention in education, financially, or otherwise. Federal intervention has led to education being the fastest inflating segment of our economy, with the exception of our national debt. Perhaps we should call for a separation of Education and State, and let the markets determine our education costs, instead of the enaction of Federal subsidies, student loans, grants and scholarships that we have now.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 16 at 2015 10:36 PM

2015-11-16T22:36:14-05:00

Here is the absolute bigger issue: in the post war years to about the 1970s, we had a manufacturing based economy that basically under girded a middle class. These were semi skilled and skilled labor in manufacturing and building of capital goods that required no education or vocational training. All those jobs were chased off shore by high labor costs or automated out of existence. Now we have a service based economy (essentially compressed air for sale by economic measures). People who would have made a decent living building stuff now go to college, but is it right for them? Now hundreds of thousands get degrees in basket weaving at tremendous cost and then mysteriously can't find work because the market is flooded. Now kids are hearing the grass isn't greener and they have cried foul!

Response by MAJ Keith FitzPatrick, CPIM, CSCP made Nov 16 at 2015 10:55 PM

2015-11-16T22:55:24-05:00

I don't see why students shouldn't pay for their own education. Of course the cost of college is much higher than it was when I went to school, but the students themselves are part of the problem. They don't want to live in normal college dorms, they want "suites"; they demand state of the art fitness centers that rival the US Olympic Training Center; they want gourmet restaurants I stead of dining facilities, etc. Perhaps if students would lower their expectations for comfort and concentrated on getting an education, school would cost less. Then they could afford to pay for it.

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made Nov 16 at 2015 10:56 PM

2015-11-16T22:56:46-05:00

Must serve 2 months for every month paid, if they become disqualified from service for any reason, then pay in full at the current APR and not be allowed to file bankruptcy or leave the country

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Nov 16 at 2015 11:24 PM

2015-11-16T23:24:45-05:00

Just where do you think the money is going to come from? Yep, our tax dollars...we are already taxed to death...we already spend way too much money every second of the day....our deficit is growing exponentially by leaps and bounds...and we are suppose to give free tuition??? yeah, not way jose...not in a freaking million years.
Most colleges are liberal these days...Have you seen the riots and or crap/marches/protests going on at colleges these days....and you want to give money away and let these kids go for free?

These kids already have a seriously BAD BAD BAD attitude...they already feel PRIVILEGES and liked they are owed something....

NOPE! not in a million years...not even for my kids or my grand kids....
I worked hard....I joined the SERVICE. I DIDN'T EVEN GET the GI bill and instead got stuck under the LOUSY, yes I mean LOUSY VEAP program...but I worked hard....managed to SCRIMP and save and I paid my way through college!

NO SIR! No FREAKING FREE RIDES! Work for as I did and as many of you did....or get student loans and pay them back....
DO THE RIGHT THING! NO more FREE RIDES....all of this other free shit needs to go too!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 1:29 AM

2015-11-17T01:29:29-05:00

One of their points was that America spends millions of dollars funding prisons and that money would better be used funding education. I agree with them and a line from Liar, Liar popped into my head "STOP BREAKING THE LAW, $$$HOLE!".

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 1:53 AM

2015-11-17T01:53:28-05:00

Sir, absolutely not. There is no free education because, as taxpayers, we would be footing the bill. Let them work full time and go to school like I did. I had the G.I. Bill, but I earned that. Enough, with free loaders.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 7:23 AM

2015-11-17T07:23:52-05:00

First of all .... there is nothing free. Either you believe in slavery or you are not. While you said tuition is too expensive! Expensive on what? On the school you want to attend? then go and find another one.

Free .... this free things is getting to so many people's head and they really think is FREE.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Nov 17 at 2015 7:35 AM

2015-11-17T07:35:26-05:00

Free? No, I don't think so. However, I really think the "free tuition" argument is a counter-narrative to the ever-rising costs of higher education. Students are now paying thousands of dollars, and going into deep debt, simply to get a bachelors-level college education (not to mention the costs of graduate-level degrees). If the "free tuition" argument results in societal/political pressure to reduce the growth in tuition costs (which most agree is a problem), and results in some reduction in the level of student debt (which most also agree is a problem, as well as a drag on our economy), then it will have served its purpose.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Nov 17 at 2015 11:29 AM

2015-11-17T11:29:49-05:00

I am willing to chip away some of my paycheck so that some may have free tuition. Of course this will only be sponsored by community colleges, and some state college, not a free ride to Harvard.

I understand and have seen individuals in unfortunate circumstances to where education for them and a full time job is near impossible.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 17 at 2015 1:46 PM

2015-11-17T13:46:51-05:00

Has anyone done the math to see if it is even feasible? 22,000,000 college students at $30,000 equals $660,000,000,000 a year. Maybe since they should fight fore free medical care, car insurance, and cell phone bills.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 3:17 PM

2015-11-17T15:17:32-05:00

Hmmm... And how do they suppose we are going to pay for this? Raise taxes to 80-90% ?? Bless their hearts.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 8:21 PM

2015-11-17T20:21:45-05:00

The problem is there is too much easy money available for college so schools have no incentive to keep costs down.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2015 1:01 PM

2015-11-22T13:01:54-05:00

I think free or near free tuition is key. We are dying as a country and it's not because of endless wars that were fought in vain, it's not because the enemies of democracy hate us, it's because we cannot keep up with other developed countries. Our wage gap increases every year and inflation increases, but we like to blame the poor for not being able to take jobs that just do not exist in the US anymore. The education gap is growing in the US also. When the student loan bubble bursts, it will hurt us a lot more economically than the housing bubble. To those saying just join the military and you get college for free, it doesnt work that way. There are not enough spots in the military for everyone to get college like that. What about those who arent medically able to stay? Just forget about them, right? It's really one of the stupidest points I've heard argued on the subject by military members.

Response by SrA Art Siatkowsky made Nov 23 at 2015 3:54 AM

2015-11-23T03:54:26-05:00

Tell them to sign their life away on the dotted line....do 4 years in service and then we can talk about a free education.