De-fund universities!
It is curious that the university community believes it beholding only to its ideals. But it is wholly dependent upon the financial support of the average American, people it holds in contempt.
This is from an article by John Strossel on education subsidies.
"De-fund universities!" says Inez Stepman, senior policy analyst at the Independent Women's Forum. "Their entire business model is dependent on the taxpayer."
I push back: "You make it sound like it's all government money. But people pay their own way."
She corrects me: "Without that lifeblood of those federal student loans, very few universities would be able to operate. They are dependent on that federal interference."
They're dependent because they've raised their prices so much. When I went to college, my tuition was $1,950. Now, Princeton charges $53,890.
After government increased subsidies, colleges raised tuition prices at four times the rate of inflation.
They spend the money not just on golf courses and fancy foods. They build new stadiums, first-class swimming pools, media rooms and some even offer students housekeeping.
Why not spend? Colleges know they will get more money from taxpayers. The federal government is now America's largest provider of student aid.
"There is no check on the cost of a college degree," says Stepman. "If students had to walk into Wells Fargo for those loans, Wells Fargo would look at whether or not those loans would be paid back. The federal government doesn't ask any of those questions."
So, money is thrown at students who don't benefit. Today, almost half the students given loans don't graduate in six years.
Instead, says Stepman, they have "$50,000 or $60,000 or $80,000 in debt, without the degree to show for it."
Taxpayers lose. Students lose. The winners are bloated colleges.
Colleges say they deserve every loan and tax break because they make "wiser citizens."
"They're not," says Stepman. "They're making citizens who hate their country."
I push back again: "Most colleges educate rather than indoctrinate."
"I wish that were true," replies Stepman. "I was part of the College Republicans... registering voters. I actually had a professor walk up and spit on me. Another called us the 'Nazi Youth.' These are professors!"
"It's offensive," she adds, "that we take dollars out of mechanics' pockets and put them into the pockets of, largely, middle-class and upper-middle-class students."
It is offensive.
But that's what America does.
"De-fund universities!" says Inez Stepman, senior policy analyst at the Independent Women's Forum. "Their entire business model is dependent on the taxpayer."
I push back: "You make it sound like it's all government money. But people pay their own way."
She corrects me: "Without that lifeblood of those federal student loans, very few universities would be able to operate. They are dependent on that federal interference."
They're dependent because they've raised their prices so much. When I went to college, my tuition was $1,950. Now, Princeton charges $53,890.
After government increased subsidies, colleges raised tuition prices at four times the rate of inflation.
They spend the money not just on golf courses and fancy foods. They build new stadiums, first-class swimming pools, media rooms and some even offer students housekeeping.
Why not spend? Colleges know they will get more money from taxpayers. The federal government is now America's largest provider of student aid.
"There is no check on the cost of a college degree," says Stepman. "If students had to walk into Wells Fargo for those loans, Wells Fargo would look at whether or not those loans would be paid back. The federal government doesn't ask any of those questions."
So, money is thrown at students who don't benefit. Today, almost half the students given loans don't graduate in six years.
Instead, says Stepman, they have "$50,000 or $60,000 or $80,000 in debt, without the degree to show for it."
Taxpayers lose. Students lose. The winners are bloated colleges.
Colleges say they deserve every loan and tax break because they make "wiser citizens."
"They're not," says Stepman. "They're making citizens who hate their country."
I push back again: "Most colleges educate rather than indoctrinate."
"I wish that were true," replies Stepman. "I was part of the College Republicans... registering voters. I actually had a professor walk up and spit on me. Another called us the 'Nazi Youth.' These are professors!"
"It's offensive," she adds, "that we take dollars out of mechanics' pockets and put them into the pockets of, largely, middle-class and upper-middle-class students."
It is offensive.
But that's what America does.
No comments:
Post a Comment