The Pitfalls of Free College
Those in favor of free college often dismiss the claims of attached strings as mere conservative talking points. But the reality of attached strings are readily apparent.
For quite some time, many Democrats and left leaning Americans have championed the alleged merits of free college.
One of the most absolute realities of life is that nothing, of value, is ever free. Even when something appears to be free, there are always strings attached. Many of these strings are highly undesirable. In the case of free college, this sentiment is heavily applicable.
Free College is NEVER Free
The notion of free college does not coincide with real life. The power, lights, heat/air, and other utilities of college campuses have to be paid to continue working.
The same principle pertains to college professors and other staffers within the buildings. They are not going to work for free. At some point, the bill always come due. There is absolutely no way of escaping this. Everything comes with price.
Source: Pixabay
Those who laud free college conveniently fail to mention a very critical element.
While college students may not foot the bill for their studies, Americans taxpayers will. When American taxpayers are forced to fund, not so, free college, that means they’re losing money.
Tax increases take earnings away from hardworking Americans. Some people may truly need the money that would go towards “free” college to otherwise pay their bills, feed their families, or simply save for a rainy day. Nobody is entitled to the fruits of someone else’s labor. So called free college harms everyday Americans.
The Invisible Attached Strings of Free College
Those in favor of free college often dismiss the claims of attached strings as mere conservative talking points. But the reality of attached strings are readily apparent.
As reported by CNN Money, the state of Rhode Island decided to implement free community college earlier this year. In order to take advantage of this, students are required to be enrolled full-time and retain a 2.5 grade point average. One could argue that this is a fair price for free college. But additional stipulations exist.
Students who opt into free community college must also work, reside, or pursue higher advanced education within the state of Rhode Island after they graduate.
So if a student who took advantage of the free community college program wants to move out of state following their graduation or attend a four year college outside of the state, they can’t do so because it would breach the terms of the agreed upon stipulations of free community college. This is the price to be paid for free college. This is also a prime example of the invisible, attached strings that supporters of free college often fail to mention.
A Real Solution for Making College More Affordable
The lack of affordability of college is no secret to anyone who pays attention. The solution to this ailment is not to simply slap the word “free” before college and then bill American taxpayers. The proper solution is to increase the wages of hardworking people.
This can be done by decreasing taxes, increasing job opportunities, and by individuals advancing their own skill sets so they can afford to send their children to college.
Source: Pixabay
Everything of value always comes with a price. People must also remember to take initiative and make their own moves. The government can lower taxes and boost job opportunities until the cows come home, but if people fail to take the necessary steps to engender their own success and prosperity, they will reap the fruits, or lack thereof, which accompany that.
Are you for or against free college?
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This is simple-minded conservative click-bait. I actually read this expecting to learn about some perverse unintended consequence of a program I have been proud to support (and pay for) as a citizen of Rhode Island. But, no, the big reveal is that the author is ideologically opposed to paying his taxes or helping fellow citizens. The unnamed author knows nothing about the high school students who will benefit from our Rhode Island program. But s/he feels free to accuse them of failing “to take the necessary steps to engender their own success and prosperity.” I know them personally and they are talented, ambitious and incredibly hard-working, holding down jobs, getting top grades and participating in their communities as well.If they did any more “engendering” they’d collapse from exhaustion. It’s not a failure to take the ‘necessary steps” that stands in their way. It’s lack of cash to pay college tuition. That’s why the free, yes free tuition program was created. Those undefined “job opportunities” that your massive tax reduction on wealth will allegedly unleash (soon I hope) will require college degrees. If our kids go to college and get those jobs, everyone wins: they earn more money, pay more taxes, contribute more talent to the community. If they don’t, we all lose. Two years of community college tuition money is chump change for this kind of return on investment.