America: Land of the Free and Home of the Bull Shit.

[paladin]

haha, good point

[ICEE]

I'd rather fly under the radar. It's more noble, and theres really no reason to share our shit with the world. It would be nice if we could back off as the "super power" or "world police", but I don't think we can do that at this point.

[Mass]

I'd rather fly under the radar. It's more noble, and theres really no reason to share our shit with the world. It would be nice if we could back off as the "super power" or "world police", but I don't think we can do that at this point.

Alas, when you're economically dependent on overseas trade/resources and your military spending dwarfs all others, you have neither the opportunity nor the incentive to back off. Additionally and unfortunately, NATO action is necessary to make the UN credible, even to the degree that it currently is...

And at dwood from earlier: Are you seriously proposing an end to government subsidies as a way to lower the cost of education? I mean perhaps in a literal sense that would be feasible but the quality of the education would invariably suffer, in addition to a rather immediate collapse of a large number of currently operating schools; it's not like our students are incapable of going elsewhere to learn... and don't forget that for the most part we're talking about non-profits. Besides it's easier to make money (and a lot of it) on a football team anyway. The real problem with the way we fund our college students is similar to many of our other problems, you have to negotiate your way through a complete clusterfuck of non-profits, foundations, public loans, private loans, (the kind that leave your wallet with a pink sock) scholarship programs, grants, work-study, etc that have stepped in to fill the gap which would be occupied by a more streamlined government system in a foreign country (giving them a leg up.) This has upsides and downsides to be sure, but it would be far superior to our current system, which creates a whole additional barrier of financial literacy to college admission. Not to even get into actually coming up with enough money...

[Dwood]

You had a wall of text so I'm breaking it up.

And at dwood from earlier: Are you seriously proposing an end to government subsidies as a way to lower the cost of education? I mean perhaps in a literal sense that would be feasible but the quality of the education would invariably suffer

That cannot be proven. In fact, that is an extremely weak point because we do not know that. No one seems to know where the money for the expensive colleges are going, except the top brass at those colleges. Also, the money paid for at a college institution doesn't equal the quality of the education- the same principles apply in Public schools.

Another thing, I'm not saying removing subsidies from the schools to lower rates (We have state colleges for cheaper educations...) I'm saying don't let the government do that "10-year forgiveness" thing because stuff like that means that the colleges absolutely will jack up their rates, when after 10 years of paying loans they go away not matter how much (or little) is left. If I were a college I would certainly jack up the rates if loans worked that way, easy money and the taxpayer takes the hit, not the student (in the long run) on the college.

in addition to a rather immediate collapse of a large number of currently operating schools; it's not like our students are incapable of going elsewhere to learn... and don't forget that for the most part we're talking about non-profits.

Not really, since nothing truly fundamental would change. The laws governing the loans wouldn't change, just the people running the loans.

that have stepped in to fill the gap which would be occupied by a more streamlined government system in a foreign country (giving them a leg up.) This has upsides and downsides to be sure, but it would be far superior to our current system, which creates a whole additional barrier of financial literacy to college admission. Not to even get into actually coming up with enough money...

I heartily disagree that the government filling the gap of the ability to pay for college is a good idea. Especially in the U.S. where private institutions which make up the bulk of colleges are in it to turn a profit... They will capitalize on it and the people who will get hurt are those not even trying to get an education.

[sleepy1212]

I'd like to know what Sallie Mae and Citibank are worth now that everyone owes their education to them.

[Dwood]

Nothing because no one will pay them back.

[sleepy1212]

Nothing because no one will pay them back.

Then why did the DoE get control of the interest rates and the power to call loans or garnish wages? check your AES papers when you get them. It's kind of scary.

Also, there was a time when a student loan was a really sweet deal. super low interest rates, little expectation of repayment, power to arbitrarily raise rates and sell loans to 3rd parties capitalizing on the interest. Large extra-governmental agencies bundling up loans and selling them to investors.

Sounds a little like the hous...oh shit!

[paladin]

my student loan has a fairly low rate, but I pay for most of my school out of pocket.

[paladin]

Oh come on... I cant believe I have the last comment in this thread... It was getting so good!

[Donut]

I blame minorities