60% of Americans did not go to college.

[Micawber]

"Common sense" is the weakest apology. Given when one one is unnecessary. One generation is not better than any other.
Different circumstances yield differing interpretations in retrospect of what people were like. Wanna see "lazy" generations
kick major ass, then have Japan bomb Hawaii.

 

[Walt]

Fair point on your first part, however I believe the subject heading is incorrect. The linked article, if I'm reading it correctly, states the percentage of Americans with college degrees. One can still go to college and not get a degree. So to state everyone who doesn't have a degree did not attend college is not accurate.

Access to college is important. Our society will do better if we have better access to college. The right wingnuts who rant against college access are trying to force people into a rigid class system, where if you don't have the parents who went to college, you will not go yourself.

Here is a proposal that would be incredibly expensive, so might not be doable in the current society. That being said, if we did do it, the rewards would be incredible. What if we said anyone can take college courses for free. You did not have to be trying to get a degree. You just needed to learn something. This is sort of like the education that Jobs got, where he spent two years after he dropped out of college wandering into classes.

It would not even need to be just for college subjects, we could expand it to any job skill, or educational subject. Lets say you wanted to learn how to weld a pipe, you could take a class in that for free.

Not everyone would take advantage of this, but those that did would have lots of random information they could put together in their minds to invent amazing new things. And just as important, it would allow workers to keep up with changes in the world. It used to be that someone could still use what they learned 40 years ago in school, but these days technology is speeding ahead, and many people need to learn new skills constantly.

Like I said, it would be incredibly expensive, so might not be possible... YET. But with such high rewards, we should be moving in that direction. Lets open up education and training as much as we can reasonably afford, not close it down as much as we can.

 

[cawacko]

Do you ever feel insecure about the fact that about 90% of people who spend more than 4 years in higher learning, (with lots of books, lots of different people, lots of exchanges of ideas, etc.) turn out liberal?

Like, FACTS make us liberal, dude.

Weird, huh?

If I may ask, how are you defining liberal here? Is it simply from a political sense that one votes Democratic? Or how The Economist might define liberal? Or another variation of the term?

 

[Micawber]

I guess. I never ask people at stores what their formal education is. You do?

No, but I know them. And I speak with them even when I don't and often you can tell. You know a white collar bred edumacation
after 5 sentences. And when they are making my latte I am like "what are you doing here" as the Billy Joel song says.

 

[BidenPresident]

Access to college is important. Our society will do better if we have better access to college. The right wingnuts who rant against college access are trying to force people into a rigid class system, where if you don't have the parents who went to college, you will not go yourself.

Here is a proposal that would be incredibly expensive, so might not be doable in the current society. That being said, if we did do it, the rewards would be incredible. What if we said anyone can take college courses for free. You did not have to be trying to get a degree. You just needed to learn something. This is sort of like the education that Jobs got, where he spent two years after he dropped out of college wandering into classes.

It would not even need to be just for college subjects, we could expand it to any job skill, or educational subject. Lets say you wanted to learn how to weld a pipe, you could take a class in that for free.

Not everyone would take advantage of this, but those that did would have lots of random information they could put together in their minds to invent amazing new things. And just as important, it would allow workers to keep up with changes in the world. It used to be that someone could still use what they learned 40 years ago in school, but these days technology is speeding ahead, and many people need to learn new skills constantly.

Like I said, it would be incredibly expensive, so might not be possible... YET. But with such high rewards, we should be moving in that direction. Lets open up education and training as much as we can reasonably afford, not close it down as much as we can.

That is what community college is for. Not free, but cheaper than any other college.

 

[BidenPresident]

No, but I know them. And I speak with them even when I don't and often you can tell. You know a white collar bred edumacation
after 5 sentences. And when they are making my latte I am like "what are you doing here" as the Billy Joel song says.

Okay. There are lots of reasons. Maybe taking time off before going to grad school. Maybe it's just extra income.

And...are coffee shops even open now?

 

[Walt]

Fair point on your first part, however I believe the subject heading is incorrect. The linked article, if I'm reading it correctly, states the percentage of Americans with college degrees. One can still go to college and not get a degree. So to state everyone who doesn't have a degree did not attend college is not accurate.

You know, 10 or 20 years ago, I would say that a degree was important. I would also hold up the German system of trades training as the best model to follow. Today, not so much.

I idea of someone working for 40-50 years based on the same education seems bizarre now. I now think more in terms of micro-certificates earned through a lifetime. The German system where I might have a plumber who learned very well 40 years ago, means that he does not have the recent knowledge in plumbing. Because he has invested so much in his initial education, he will be less interested in the constant investment in education over a lifetime he needs.

 

[Walt]

That is what community college is for. Not free, but cheaper than any other college.

Exactly, and we are cutting back sharply on community college, which is a huge mistake. This is the age when community colleges should be expanded exponentially. They should include not just associate degree courses, but also trade training (which most do), and graduate level courses(which none do).

 

[Jerome]

A.) I see college as an investment rather than a necessity.

ok...? That's a distinction without a difference. An educated electorate is absolutely critical for a democracy. And no one said anything about compulsory college, so not, I'm not calling it a "necessity". I'm calling for making it cheaper for those who can't afford it, and who qualify academically.

B.) Speaking of necessities I think it's time to take better care of the elderly, disabled & homeless.

Agreed. But we don't need "homeless shelters", we need housing. Inexpensive, perhaps free, housing for the homeless. This can be federally funded, or federal incentives for local governments that divert law-enforcement funds to housing.

D.) Reducing defense spending can be decent, but what about China & Russia!?

Our defense spending is out of control. Even cutting it 50% would make us the most well-funded military in the world, by far. And China and Russia aren't waging conventional warfare against the U.S., they're waging economic and cyber warfare, which doesn't call for F-35s and tanks.

E.) We get it you want to abolish ICE because you want to turn The USA into Latin America.

We never had ICE until 2003, and as far as I can tell we never became Latin America. Prior to ICE and the mandatory deportations, Mexican workers came to America to work on farms seasonally, and then went back to Mexico with their earnings to be with their families. Ironically, our new "deport them!" policies have forced migrant workers to stay, making the undocumented immigrant population swell, not decrease. ICE is also notorious for human rights abuses; even Amnesty International sees it. ICE is worthless.

G.) Taxing big tech just hinders their progression & research. Or they pass on the costs to the consumer.

No, breaking up or taxing big tech will give other entrepreneurs an opening to innovate. Monopolies HURT innovation, they don't help.

 

[BidenPresident]

Exactly, and we are cutting back sharply on community college, which is a huge mistake. This is the age when community colleges should be expanded exponentially. They should include not just associate degree courses, but also trade training (which most do), and graduate level courses(which none do).

Community colleges only teach freshmen and sophomore level classes. Every county votes on well funded they are.

Senator Sanders has proposed making community colleges free, but that would require federal funding.

 

[Jerome]

Exactly, and we are cutting back sharply on community college, which is a huge mistake. This is the age when community colleges should be expanded exponentially. They should include not just associate degree courses, but also trade training (which most do), and graduate level courses(which none do).

Obama sought free community college for all. GOP blocked it.

 

[cawacko]

Access to college is important. Our society will do better if we have better access to college. The right wingnuts who rant against college access are trying to force people into a rigid class system, where if you don't have the parents who went to college, you will not go yourself.

Here is a proposal that would be incredibly expensive, so might not be doable in the current society. That being said, if we did do it, the rewards would be incredible. What if we said anyone can take college courses for free. You did not have to be trying to get a degree. You just needed to learn something. This is sort of like the education that Jobs got, where he spent two years after he dropped out of college wandering into classes.

It would not even need to be just for college subjects, we could expand it to any job skill, or educational subject. Lets say you wanted to learn how to weld a pipe, you could take a class in that for free.

Not everyone would take advantage of this, but those that did would have lots of random information they could put together in their minds to invent amazing new things. And just as important, it would allow workers to keep up with changes in the world. It used to be that someone could still use what they learned 40 years ago in school, but these days technology is speeding ahead, and many people need to learn new skills constantly.

Like I said, it would be incredibly expensive, so might not be possible... YET. But with such high rewards, we should be moving in that direction. Lets open up education and training as much as we can reasonably afford, not close it down as much as we can.

It's funny to me you're calling people 'right wingnuts' because they may believe there's not one right way for a person to move forward in life. Not everybody has to go to college.

The internet is a game changer. There is so much access to information and learning available (even access to college courses for free) that one doesn't have to sit in a classroom to learn. A college degree is a virtue signal to employers but just because one has a degree doesn't necessarily mean they are smarter or have more knowledge or skills than someone who didn't go or didn't graduate (for whatever reason, family, money etc.)

Now the person who doesn't go to college doesn't get the 'college experience' or the connections and networking that going to a University does. But if we're talking about access to learning it's available.

 

[BidenPresident]

It's funny to me you're calling people 'right wingnuts' because they may believe there's not one right way for a person to move forward in life. Not everybody has to go to college.

The internet is a game changer. There is so much access to information and learning available (even access to college courses for free) that one doesn't have to sit in a classroom to learn. A college degree is a virtue signal to employers but just because one has a degree doesn't necessarily mean they are smarter or have more knowledge or skills than someone who didn't go or didn't graduate (for whatever reason, family, money etc.)

Now the person who doesn't go to college doesn't get the 'college experience' or the connections and networking that going to a University does. But if we're talking about access to learning it's available.

I hope my doctor did not get an internet degree.

 

[BattleofHodow]

ok...? That's a distinction without a difference. An educated electorate is absolutely critical for a democracy. And no one said anything about compulsory college, so not, I'm not calling it a "necessity". I'm calling for making it cheaper for those who can't afford it, and who qualify academically.




Agreed. But we don't need "homeless shelters", we need housing. Inexpensive, perhaps free, housing for the homeless. This can be federally funded, or federal incentives for local governments that divert law-enforcement funds to housing.



Our defense spending is out of control. Even cutting it 50% would make us the most well-funded military in the world, by far. And China and Russia aren't waging conventional warfare against the U.S., they're waging economic and cyber warfare, which doesn't call for F-35s and tanks.



We never had ICE until 2003, and as far as I can tell we never became Latin America. Prior to ICE and the mandatory deportations, Mexican workers came to America to work on farms seasonally, and then went back to Mexico with their earnings to be with their families. Ironically, our new "deport them!" policies have forced migrant workers to stay, making the undocumented immigrant population swell, not decrease. ICE is also notorious for human rights abuses; even Amnesty International sees it. ICE is worthless.



No, breaking up or taxing big tech will give other entrepreneurs an opening to innovate. Monopolies HURT innovation, they don't help.

We should tax companies into the ground who outsource, limit freedom of speech & hire immigrants.

Even consider putting them on trial.

Millennial already are well educated so.

The issue is Millennials make less in real wages.

That's because of loss of unions, outsourcing & immigration.

So, spare me your anti ICE rhetoric.

As for homeless they should get better Federal funding for homeless shelters.

Disability is a poverty allowance which is in dire need to a raise for our most vulnerable.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

no one has a BA in basketweaving, you dolt

Clearly your higher education didn't include sarcasm jerk wad.

 

[Walt]

Community colleges only teach freshmen and sophomore level classes. Every county votes on well funded they are.

Senator Sanders has proposed making community colleges free, but that would require federal funding.

It could be done with local funding, but it would have to be done in a large number of places. If one county made it free, everyone would rush for that one county.

 

[Grokmaster]

yeah, aint no hoity toty English for you, eh?!

I have a BS in Chemistry, from a school you couldn't even get into, much less graduate from, Dumbfuck.


English majors KNOWN DUMBASSES = WHY THEY ARE "ENGLISH MAJORS"...INCAPABLE OF ANY SERIOUS DISCIPLINES...

 

[Grokmaster]

Eminently reasonable.

I came out of graduate school 20k in debt, and I thought that was bad. It is probably more daunting now!

There obviously need to be rules on accreditation of vocational schools. Scams like Trump University should never see a dime of taxpayer funded tuition support

EXCEPT THAT WE LOWER EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS HERE BASED ON RACE, THANKS TO THE MORON LEFT.

 

[BidenPresident]

Clearly your higher education didn't include sarcasm jerk wad.

No, I just find you trolls avoidable. Bye.

 

[BidenPresident]

It could be done with local funding, but it would have to be done in a large number of places. If one county made it free, everyone would rush for that one county.

Yes, why Sanders would make it national.