10 Reasons Why Obama’s “College Affordability Plan” is Full of Fail
Yesterday, we described Obama’s new “College Affordability” Plan.
And, its already being given a failing grade by everyone in the higher education community. (Hat-tip, Instapundit)
It is not every day that Harvard University and staunch conservatives can agree the president is wrong. President Obama’s decision to interject the federal government into university education, however, has done the trick. ….
1. The problem of cost-gouging by universities is made worse not better by further federal subsidization.
2. The federal government has no role and should not have one in the management of private universities, and it has no particular expertise in doing so…
3. The federal government obviously can’t implement Obamacare, so can we expect Obama-ed to be any better?
4. Obama assumes the problem is too few people going to college. In fact many who go aren’t prepared, and we have a shortage of technically trained workers. Any federal effort aimed at boosting university numbers without regard to the quality of students is misplaced.
5. It’s a purely political play to beef up his sagging support from young voters instead of address their real concerns — jobs and generational wealth transfer from young to old.
6. He refuses to treat universities like oil companies. The latter he repeatedly accuses and investigates for price increases (never finding evidence of improper conduct). But he refuses to do the same when it comes to universities sitting on billions in endowments.
7. It is another example of failing to consult those affected by his boondoggles and line up support, nor does it stem from any popular demand for federal regulation of universities.
8. It isn’t clear information to do this would be available or that there is an appropriate standard to apply….
9. Rather than focusing on the money going out to students, universities should be focusing on the return on investment their education provides students with various majors. Then they can decide if it is worth $50,000 per year for a sociology degree from Brown University.
10. Like universal preschool education this would be another outlay and add to bureaucracy with no explanation for what it will cost.
Comments
1. The problem of cost-gouging by universities is made worse not better by further federal subsidization.
I believe that this is “Bill Bennett’s Rule”.
The real problem with college is that those who go are the most immature emotionally and financially. The notion that college is to be a “good time” is a path to disaster.
College is the gateway to a career. It should be rigorous and actually put you on a path to a career, not a just a passion.
Often overlooked is the idea that the career should actually pay real cash money sufficient to pay your bills (I doubt the #Occupy stooge who got the degree in puppetry will never get back his investment).