A key piece of the puzzle is that when everything is “free” it has to be rationed. I tried to tell that to another friend who was all for everyone being given health insurance. I tried to point out that giving everyone an insurance card doesn’t mean everyone gets seen by a doctor or gets the treatment they need.
I think about this a lot with education. It is marvelous that we have so many education options ... someone can get their act together and go to college at any time in their lives. In other countries, where education is free, you take a test out of high school and you get your choice of school based on your ranking and that’s it. Don’t do well? No college for you unless you go abroad. I don’t think free college will mean everyone who wants to go to college will get a seat in college.
I wish this would be emphasized more. If you have little money and want free college, Bernie might not be your guy because, although college might be free, you will have practically no chance of actually getting in.