3 ms·

I think you hit the nail on the head there. In non-communist countries, it is possible to pay off your education debt, and profit from your hard work thereafter

I think you hit the nail on the head there. In non-communist countries, it is possible to pay off your education debt, and profit from your hard work thereafter. In Cuba, it isn't.

davidw 9y ago
This is true even under single payer systems like Italy. Via my wife, I know the GP in the small town where she lived, and he has a place in the mountains, a boat in the laguna, and regularly takes nice vacations around the world. He's doing pretty well, in other words, and I don't think most people begrudge doctors some financial rewards for what they do.
adrianN 9y ago
I live in a non-communist country and still got all my education for free. There aren't just two political systems, the American one and dirty communism.
- jerkstate 9y ago
  The last thing I intended to do was defend the totally broken American education system, where the costs are inflated by subsidized loans which were purportedly intended to increase access but actually work to move us closer to an indentured servitude system like they have in Cuba.
- briandear 9y ago
  You don’t get anything for free. Your 40%+ taxes give you that “for free.” I’d rather pay more for school and keep more of my earnings than have “free” school and high taxes forever. Americans have more disposable income than the countries with “free” university. Student debt is temporary, confiscatory taxes are forever. Study comp sci in France, graduate and make €40k per year before taxes. Study comp sci in the US, graduate and make $100k but with $80k in debt. What’s the better deal? Remember that $100k also includes health benefits, vacation and all that. That €40k probably has an effective tax rate of 35% while the $100k likely has Ann effective rate of 20%. School isn’t “free” — you pay dearly for it.

3 ms·

I think you hit the nail on the head there. In non-communist countries, it is possible to pay off your education debt, and profit from your hard work thereafter

by jerkstate 9y ago

I think you hit the nail on the head there. In non-communist countries, it is possible to pay off your education debt, and profit from your hard work thereafter. In Cuba, it isn't.

davidw 9y ago
This is true even under single payer systems like Italy. Via my wife, I know the GP in the small town where she lived, and he has a place in the mountains, a boat in the laguna, and regularly takes nice vacations around the world. He's doing pretty well, in other words, and I don't think most people begrudge doctors some financial rewards for what they do.
adrianN 9y ago
I live in a non-communist country and still got all my education for free. There aren't just two political systems, the American one and dirty communism.
- jerkstate 9y ago
  The last thing I intended to do was defend the totally broken American education system, where the costs are inflated by subsidized loans which were purportedly intended to increase access but actually work to move us closer to an indentured servitude system like they have in Cuba.
- briandear 9y ago
  You don’t get anything for free. Your 40%+ taxes give you that “for free.” I’d rather pay more for school and keep more of my earnings than have “free” school and high taxes forever. Americans have more disposable income than the countries with “free” university. Student debt is temporary, confiscatory taxes are forever. Study comp sci in France, graduate and make €40k per year before taxes. Study comp sci in the US, graduate and make $100k but with $80k in debt. What’s the better deal? Remember that $100k also includes health benefits, vacation and all that. That €40k probably has an effective tax rate of 35% while the $100k likely has Ann effective rate of 20%. School isn’t “free” — you pay dearly for it.