You're right, we do susbidize real estate brokers -- indirectly, by allowing tax deductions on mortgages.
You have too much faith in "the market." The market, among other things, is a machine. And it's up to us to put that machine to good use.
At present time we live in a perilous age in which America's dominance will be plowed under unless we muster the will to educate the young. The "market" makes no distinction between the U.S. and any other country. It will simply function as it has always functioned, with capital seeking the lowest costs of production and investment seeking out new technologies.
You see complaints about "the market" all the time on this board, including illegal immigration, outsourcing and H1Bs. That is the darker side of the market for the U.S. and these problems will only increase unless we act.
In regards to funding liberal arts majors, I tend to think that most of them find niches somewhere. Either they go into sales of some kind or take jobs in bookstores. Do they need a BA to do these jobs? No. But I'm of the mind that no education is ever wasted.
You have too much faith in "the market." The market, among other things, is a machine. And it's up to us to put that machine to good use.
---Fine. But why is it that my faith is misplaced, while others' faith in government funding for education isn't? What has government ever done right that I should trust IT over the market?
At present time we live in a perilous age in which America's dominance will be plowed under unless we muster the will to educate the young. The "market" makes no distinction between the U.S. and any other country. It will simply function as it has always functioned, with capital seeking the lowest costs of production and investment seeking out new technologies.
---Yes, and we see what the market has done. The U.S. has subsidized people in areas that aren't needed, and we desperately need homegrown engineers and mathematicians, but because it's easy to get cash for ANYTHING, we don't have them. We have liberal arts majors. If the market was a free one, NOT a government-influenced one, many wouldn't waste time with degrees that don't pay off.
You see complaints about "the market" all the time on this board, including illegal immigration, outsourcing and H1Bs. That is the darker side of the market for the U.S. and these problems will only increase unless we act.
---In fact, I think those areas make MY point, and you're right, we should act, in the way I suggest--by cutting federal education funding entirely. Outsourcing and illegal immigration are largely due to the fact that many college-degreed people don't think they should mow lawns or cut crops. That doesn't mean they won't work, but God forbid manual labor is involved if they have a history degree. And H1-Bs are usually for labor where there is a distinct shortage--science and math majors which would people would otherwise be incentivized into by the market!
In regards to funding liberal arts majors, I tend to think that most of them find niches somewhere. Either they go into sales of some kind or take jobs in bookstores. Do they need a BA to do these jobs? No. But I'm of the mind that no education is ever wasted.
---Look, "no education is ever wasted" is an emotion-driven cliche like "if it saves only one life, it's worth it." I can't refute it, because then I'm a meanie, but I can point to the actual choices we would be forced to make if we made policy decisions based upon it. If 'no education is ever wasted,' why don't we have government give any education level you want away for FREE? I mean, it'd be great if shop mechanics could defend their doctoral thesis on Camus while they're changing your plugs, or if pool cleaners could dissect the frogs they fish out of your drain, but societally, it's inefficient and would cost a ton. We are WASTING PUBLIC DOLLARS on things we don't need. And we're driving young Americans away from the education and skills we do need.
Most liberal arts majors know how to write fairly well, and if you can write fairly well, I guarantee you'll always have a job in corporate America. Because business people can't write for sheee-yot.