[Allheart]

im all for loans and grants based on real need and honest merit.

more than happy to have kids who are academically fit have the means to go on to college.

but a blanket "free ride" is an election year move. i expect more from mr obama than promises that are fiscally dumb and, honestly, very difficult to implement at the college level.

trust me... i loved teaching. was good at it. but throwing tons of new bodies into the mix is not the way to get better, high quality ed.

I do trust you. It can be worked out. Those "new" bodies shouldn't just become non important.

If a team was put together to brainstorm on this and cared enough to come up with a workable solution, it could be done. It's not that difficult.

Extend high school for two years... call it Advanced Education. Do it in terms. We mangage to school them from age 6 to 17/18 - We can't handle a couple more years?

Our kids are too valuable and deserve to have the oppurtunity... not hand out.. opportunity.

[Skell]

im all for loans and grants based on real need and honest merit.

more than happy to have kids who are academically fit have the means to go on to college.

but a blanket "free ride" is an election year move. i expect more from mr obama than promises that are fiscally dumb and, honestly, very difficult to implement at the college level.

trust me... i loved teaching. was good at it. but throwing tons of new bodies into the mix is not the way to get better, high quality ed.

Agree. To me, and if that's what is actually been promised, a blanket free ride appears nothing more than a political stunt and I don't see any benefit.

[Allheart]

Ok thanks for clearing that up Allheart. :D

And i agree. As much assistance as possible should be given to those wanting to better themselves and the country. I dont see how anyone could disagree with that either.

Thank you. Once again... I'm just not getting it.

[Skell]

How about if you don't earn your entry to university through high school and can give reason why not other than just not having good crack at it, then you get a second chance to gain entry. Do a bridging course. Do your final year at high school again. Prove that you deserve entry, prove that you deserve assistance. If you still can't then its off to flipping burgers.

University to me is an earned priveledge. Earned through hard work. Not a paid priveledge.

[topladyj]

I Think It Is A Great Idea I Am 22 Years Old And To Get Free Pelgrants They Won't Give Me Enough To Even Pay My Way. They Want to Go By My Parents Income And My Stepdad. I Called Fasfa They Said It Was Because Parents Are Supposed To Pay For The Kids College For Six Years. Unless I Get Knocked Up Or Married. Sorry I Don't Think I Should Have To Pop Out A Baby Or Get Married To Some Jerk To Go To College... that Is So Wrong So I Got One More Year And I Am 24 And I Can Just Claim Myself And Get Money For My College. Yes I Think It Is A Great Idea To Give People Who Can't Afford It Free College. And Those Who Have Tons Of Money Should Pay!

[Allheart]

I Think It Is A Great Idea I Am 22 Years Old And To Get Free Pelgrants They Wont Give Me Enough To Even Pay My Way. They Wanna Go By My Parents Income And My Stepdad. I Called Fasfa They Said It Was Because Parents Are Suposed To Pay For The Kids College For Six Years. Unless I Get Knocked Up Or Married. Sorry I Don't Think I Should Have To Pop Out A Baby Or Get Married To Some Jerk To Go To College......that Is So Wrong So I Got One More Year And I Am 24 And I Can Just Claim Myself And Get Money For My College. Yes I Think It Is A Great Idea To Give People Who Can't Afford It Free College. And Those Who Have Tons Of Money Should Pay!

Can you feel this young ladies desire to go to college. Can you hear the frustration.
This should not be.

I'm with Skell - Work hard... earn it. Nothing handed to anyone. On sheer merit.
Toplady - Don't you give up. See if you can get a job that will at least pay partial, some may pay all.

But chin up girl... the best things achieved are those that we struggled for but successfully
Did :)

[tomder55]

Robert Heinlien used to say in his novels that democracies failed when the masses realized they could vote themselves largesse .lets make food free too while we are at it.

[Allheart]

Robert Heinlien used to say in his novels that democracies failed when the masses realized they could vote themselves largesse .lets make food free too while we are at it.

Tom my friend... food ultimately turns into... waste.

Educating a child to his or her highest potential will result in a higher investment with far greater returns.

This is not just a feel good cause. I think it is the right of the child, who puts forth the effort, to be able to obtain a higher education.

[tomder55]

If it is worth it to them then they should gladly take on the debt .

Education is NOT a right . The right to a "free education" is the same as the right to take from someone's wallet or purse what is not yours. If it is a right then lets make it compulsory like we do for K-12 . Everyone has to delay their adulthood for 4 more years and be warehoused by the government in state sponsored institutes of higher learning . And let's mandate what they learn while we are at it. Why not ? We are paying for it.

[Allheart]

if it is worth it to them then they should gladly take on the debt .

Education is NOT a right . The right to a "free education" is the same as the right to take from someones wallet or purse what is not yours. If it is a right then lets make it compulsory like we do for K-12 . Everyone has to delay their adulthood for 4 more years and be warehoused by the government in state sponsored institutes of higher learning . And let's mandate what they learn while we are at it. Why not ? We are paying for it.

Then why not make parents pay from K - 12. Heck I don't have children. Why should I pay taxes to support their education then. (mind you, I am glad that a portion of my taxes go for something beneficial )

Boy Tom, when you have a view you stick to your guns there... even when I'm right :p

I would be PROUD of us if we invested in our children that way. Tom, you, yourself are a brilliant man. If someone offered you a challenge, to come up with a plan that all children who meet the quals... are able to go to college... without prejudice to the ability to pay... I bet you could come up with one. And one that would work.

[kp2171]

I think before we talk about free money for college we need to address where we are today. Our country is borrowing money hand over fist from foreign nations.

Wait a year or two and see how the credit crunch is going to restrict loans for college. The problem is, nobody wants to pay the toll. Why in the world are we staving off a recession? Its called a correction. Its needed, necessary, and most certainly NOT solved by borrowing foreign cash.

I'm not a bleeding heart, and I'm not stone hearted. I think there are social services that are worth tapping into my check, and I think there are some things that are just another product of the nanny state.

Most presidents get a couple of big items at most to tackle in one term... and whomever is elected, if they have any concern for the future, needs to deal with some of the issues I talked about... esp health care costs in the next few decades and basic fiscal responsibility.

But promising 2K to every child born, or free ed for all... its just social pandering.

[BABRAM]

I heard Obama say that he wants to provide free college to every American. I think it's a terrible idea. He would spend gadzillions of our money, and when everyone has a college degree, those grads will be flippin burgers and hanging onto garbage trucks. We will have come full circle and wasted who knows how much money. Socialism doesn't work very well.

I know it's easier to hang onto the old stale politics as usual. You heard only in-part; they would have to give some civil community service time in return. But to answer your question, with a question, Social U.S. or Social Iraq? I'd certainly rather use money toward the educational purposes of our children's future, than the $9,000,000,000 a month in Iraq.

[magprob]

It's impossible. It's just all campaign hogwash. They are all full of sh1t. Do you actually believe any of them? Do you think maybe the private bankers that collect our federal income tax will start kicking down for education? Excuse me, I need to lay down on the floor. I'm getting cramps from laughing so hard.

[justcurious55]

I agree FREE college for everyone might not be the greatest idea for our society. But just to play the devil's advocate, college isn't for everyone. I know plenty of people who could go to college. But they've made the chocie not to. Some of them have found other jobs and are happy enough they don't feel the need to earn a degree for something different. Others hated high school and say there's no way they'll ever step foot in another classroom. And think about out of all of the people who did go to college, they would have so many more opportunities. If you were given a great education and worked for years for your masters in chemistry or art history or whatever you can think of, would you really just be like "k, i worked my butt off all that time. i'm gonna go flip some burgers now."? I don't think so.

[Wondergirl]

to come up with a plan that all children who meet the quals....are able to go to college ...without prejudice to the ability to pay...I bet you could come up with one. And one that would work.

I like the idea of, say, two years of national service in an organized effort to accomplish some purpose for the betterment of this country. I don't believe every student in high school is headed for college. For those who do not go, there should be other plans in place for them, such as job shadowing, vocational training, paid and unpaid internships, and the military--all of which would give students career opportunities and the chance to earn a living wage. There would even be a plan for those who aren't interested in partaking of any of the above and who would rather choose a "easy" life of crime.

[Allheart]

I like the idea of, say, two years of national service in an organized effort to accomplish some purpose for the betterment of this country. I don't believe every student in high school is headed for college. For those who do not go, there should be other plans in place for them, such as job shadowing, vocational training, paid and unpaid internships, and the military--all of which would give students career opportunities and the chance to earn a living wage. There would even be a plan for those who aren't interested in partaking of any of the above and who would rather choose a "easy" life of crime.

Beautiful ideas Wondergirl.

With the amount of money spent by the Gov't in the months of June through Sept (end of FY). That has to be spent otherwise agencies loose the money for that FY and receive that much less the following FY - is enough to fund college for everyone two times over.

I was one of those that received my High School degree and said thank you very much, and may I never see another classroom again. We do exsist.

I am addressing the issue and not the canadate proposing it. I have always felt every child should have the opportunity to attend college.

I do not have children and never will, so this doesn't even effect me directly, but it still is something I feel very strong in.

It is not the fault of a child born into a home where funding is limited just as it is not the fault of the child born into a wealthy home. God bless them and I am thrilled for them that they have opportunities such as they do. I sincerely mean that. It kills me when someone snubs their nose at someone because "they were born with a silver spoon in their mouth". God bless them and that's one less child we need to worry about.

This is not about rich vs poor. It's about our children having equal opportunity.

[nicki143]

Here in the U.K. children leave school at 16 and can then go on to college and that is free for every school leaver.
The government now want to make children stay on at school till 18 which in my opinion is a good idea.
College should be free for evryone

[Allheart]

Here in the U.K. children leave school at 16 and can then go on to college and that is free for every school leaver.
The goverment now want to make children stay on at school till 18 which in my opinion is a good idea.
College should be free for evryone

Nicki that is wondeful!!

It can be done! :)

[tomder55]

Before we spend more of our money to give "free "education to college students I would prefer that our "free" education system would actually graduate literate students. All our tax money thrown at that problem has not generated satisfactory results. Throughout this country public school systems complain about underfunding (they are wrong.. but that is a different debate ) ,but here we have these panderers telling the gullible how they are going to give them other freebees. Free college... free health care... bread and circus .

[Allheart]

Hi Tom,

It's the issue I support - not focusing on the canadate. I say we reroute some of that wasteful spending focus it on our education system, let's fix it and consider options in ensuring all those who wish to attend higher eductation have the ability to.

Let's give it a try. Put a pilot Program in place. I think it's worth it. And it be a darn good thing for us to do.

But I think you and I will never meet on this :(, but I still respect you immensley.