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Listen Up Obama, Students Don’t Want Your Free Education(What Free Education?)
Townhall.com ^ | January 10, 2015 | Ashley Pratte

Posted on 01/10/2015 1:02:48 PM PST by Kaslin

In case you haven’t heard, President Obama plans to make his latest and greatest idea public today—to grant a “free” community college education to every student who graduates from high school.

Well, the idea sounds nice, especially now, when college is unaffordable for many young people and requires taking out significant loans by those who do attend. But, is a “free” government program actually free or void of costs?

Of course not.

Remember when President Obama promised free healthcare to young people when he was touring college campuses at a whirlwind rate? Has that promise held water? The answer is no.

President Obama then switched his tune from promising free healthcare to promising lower premiums. Today, the facts are quite the opposite. A recent study shows that health insurance premiums have drastically skyrocketed among 23-year-olds, especially males, who have seen a 78% price increase. Women have seen close to a 45% increase. Many Americans—especially our nation’s young people—are suffering as a result of this atrocious law.

This administration has a serious spending problem and promises the world to our nation’s young people, with the goal of creating a permanent dependent class out of millennials. But, guess what? Sixty percent of millennials believe that the federal government is too big and spends too much. Policies that are meant to “help” young people actually hurt them in the long run.

Who is responsible for paying off the national debt? Millennials. Currently, each person’s share of the national debt is $58,437—and it will only increase as programs like “free” college continue to come to fruition.

The President knows that he has lost momentum with young people. Offering “free” community college tuition to everyone, however, only appears to be a desperate attempt to win back young people for the future benefit of his leftist causes and colleagues. But young people don’t want government handouts. What young people want and need is the freedom to work hard and succeed. They need independence from the federal government—not reliance upon it. Free market approaches can and should be taken to make college more affordable, but is a “free” community college education—on the shoulders of taxpayers—the answer?

So, today when President Obama makes his glorious announcement that young people should be able to now attend community college for “free”—let’s remember the wise words of Milton Friedman, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: education; obama
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1 posted on 01/10/2015 1:02:48 PM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

The Community College presidents are falling all over each other lining up in support of this boondoggle. It means they can raise tuitions higher and higher since the government will be paying it.


2 posted on 01/10/2015 1:16:12 PM PST by Russ (Repeal the '17th amendment)
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To: Kaslin

Somebody has to pay for “free” education, except where unicorns are found.


3 posted on 01/10/2015 1:18:24 PM PST by VRW Conspirator (American Jobs for American Workers)
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To: VRW Conspirator

Remember 50% of the citizens will not pay any income tax, so those working will pay twice the debt.


4 posted on 01/10/2015 1:29:46 PM PST by ActresponsiblyinVA
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To: Russ

“It means they can raise tuitions higher and higher since the government will be paying it...”

Not to mention administration salaries and pensions.


5 posted on 01/10/2015 1:31:41 PM PST by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.)
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To: Kaslin

No such thing as a free education. “Free” comes with a cost, same as everything else.


6 posted on 01/10/2015 1:31:56 PM PST by GBA (Just a hick in paradise)
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To: Kaslin

one of the main reasons colleges are so expensive today is that government got its greedy hands on it in the first place.


7 posted on 01/10/2015 1:40:05 PM PST by Bullish (He's just NOT presidential material.)
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To: Kaslin

Why not simply print and distribute millions of free college diplomas and cut out the middleman.


8 posted on 01/10/2015 1:40:24 PM PST by Huskrrrr
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To: ActresponsiblyinVA

So that kids can get an education for jobs that don’t exist.


9 posted on 01/10/2015 1:44:25 PM PST by jmacusa (Liberalism defined: When mom and dad go away for the weekend and the kids are in charge.)
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To: Russ

If you like your Community College, you can keep your Community College...


10 posted on 01/10/2015 1:52:22 PM PST by broken_arrow1 (I regret that I have but one life to give for my country - Nathan Hale "Patriot")
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To: Kaslin

So Obama wants to nationalize the Community College industry. He states he wants to make the 2 years of Community College free to everyone. Free? Nothing is free. Taxpayers will have to pick up the tab and one more industry in the United States will be under Government regulation with a bureaucracy to suit. That is just what we need, more Government.

In my experience, something free is worth exactly what you paid for it.


11 posted on 01/10/2015 1:52:45 PM PST by Ben Mugged (The number one enemy of liberalism is reality.)
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To: Kaslin

I’d like someone to explain the moral distinction between a guy in Washington deciding that Community College should be free, and a guy in Ferguson deciding that Nike sneakers should be free.


12 posted on 01/10/2015 1:53:02 PM PST by blindsangamon
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To: Huskrrrr
why not simply print and distribute millions of free college diplomas and cut out the middleman

Because the middleman, those community college employees, vote for dems.

This is a very bad idea. Another reason....going to college or getting a job is a way to break away from the 'hood, for those who want to better themselves. Now everyone will just hang around for two more years, no jobs, a "college" that's a joke, no responsibilities. Where will the incentive be to get a job and pay for courses that are actually useful?

Another point. Many community colleges now have students that take their Junior and Senior HS course there while still enrolled in HS. They already get a free community college education. This will turn community colleges into high schools, but for grades 11-14. It will keep students from getting a responsible loan for a 1 year vocational training course. Mediocre will be defined downward.

13 posted on 01/10/2015 1:55:28 PM PST by grania
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To: Kaslin

Learning and accepting the truth about obama’s “free stuff” is the most expensive education you’ll ever get.


14 posted on 01/10/2015 1:58:17 PM PST by clearcarbon
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To: grania

“Another point. Many community colleges now have students that take their Junior and Senior HS course there while still enrolled in HS. They already get a free community college education. This will turn community colleges into high schools, but for grades 11-14. It will keep students from getting a responsible loan for a 1 year vocational training course. Mediocre will be defined downward.”

Of course I was kidding, but you raise excellent points. As a community college professor I cringe at the idea of free tuition. No incentive to better yourself, as you pointed out.


15 posted on 01/10/2015 2:05:22 PM PST by Huskrrrr
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To: Kaslin

Well, we can hardly stop at 2 years of community college.

What about years 3 and 4? Post grad work for those who want to be lawyers and doctors?

And then, the poor dears will need a wardrobe to report for those professional jobs everyone is going to get.

And how will they get there?

Why, we can buy them new cars! Good for the economy.

Then they will need somewhere to live. So let’s give everyone a new home.

And not just any new home—it has to be an HGTV Dream Home.

If you are going to do something, might as well do it right!.

Nirvana is achievable...at last!


16 posted on 01/10/2015 2:06:23 PM PST by exit82 ("The Taliban is on the inside of the building" E. Nordstrom 10-10-12)
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To: Kaslin

ø may act like a commie, but he’s an enemy islamist to his core.


17 posted on 01/10/2015 2:13:04 PM PST by onedoug
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To: jmacusa

Well, there must be some courses that are worthwhile, no? I mean Womyn’s Studies and basket weaving offer no future. But there must be some??? Back in my school daze, a lot of guys went to Trade Schools. The big thing in the Cleveland area was Pattern Makers/Machinists. Those guys did well!


18 posted on 01/10/2015 2:23:07 PM PST by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a Doctor and I won't touch that thing!)
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To: Kaslin
But young people don’t want government handouts.

LOL. Plenty of them want exactly that; further, they think they're entitled to them.

19 posted on 01/10/2015 2:28:10 PM PST by workerbee (The President of the United States is PUBLIC ENEMY #1)
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To: workerbee
Plenty of them want exactly that; further, they think they're entitled to them.

Exactly like their perfessers.

20 posted on 01/10/2015 2:29:42 PM PST by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republicans Freed the Slaves Month")
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