6 ms·

> What is the author's thesis? I skimmed and read and re-read, but didn't figure it out. Same. I think they are hoping Biden will put more money into public sc

by rkk3 5y ago

> What is the author's thesis? I skimmed and read and re-read, but didn't figure it out. Same. I think they are hoping Biden will put more money into public schools and stop preferential tax treatments for the large endowments. > It's not a surprise. Cotton and his party see Ivy League universities as institutions of the political opposition, whom they attack and want to punish and diminish. Tom Cotton... Harvard University BA , JD You are right that it fits the public narrative & rhetoric, but many (perhaps most) of them went to elite schools. It is probably just posturing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Cotton https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Cotton

tootie 5y ago
On that note, the liberal cry of student loan forgiveness will overwhelmingly favor people who went to expensive private colleges. Taxing big endowments seems pretty senseless and doesn't create any positive incentives either. More support and less stigma against state schools would probably do the most good.
- rkk3 5y ago
  > the liberal cry of student loan forgiveness will overwhelmingly favor people who went to expensive private colleges. True, but you can be expensive & private & not be elite (most of them are not by definition).
- wolverine876 5y ago
  > the liberal cry of student loan forgiveness What if we dropped the inflammatory political attack and just talked about loan forgiveness? Can an idea or anything else be depoliticized. And it does have some benefits, in addition to that drawback. I'm not sure about the extent or nature of it - many leading colleges reduce their prices to get the students in the door - has anyone studied it?
  - tootie 5y ago
    I count myself as a liberal but also a wonky liberal. The fact the progressive agitators don't have sound evidence for the validity of their ideas beyond number of retweets bugs the hell out of me. Student loan forgiveness would most likely be a net positive it's just going to be quite expensive for relatively little reward. Incremental wins on health care and progressive taxation will be much simpler and more beneficial.
    - wolverine876 5y ago
      You're a "wonky liberal", but it's the lack of sound evidence for progressive ideas that bothers you? Issues like climate change? Mass incarceration? Racism? Universal health care? Vaccinating people and wearing masks (not a position limited to progressives)? There's not another part of the political spectrum that lacks sound evidence? That's a bit mind-boggling, but not the first time I've seen it. My hypothesis: Middle-ground liberals are intimidated by abusive conservatives, but they feel safe criticizing progressives. You won't get flamed on HN, for example, for what you posted.
      - tootie 5y ago
        No, no not at all. I'm only talking about student loan debt. I'm 100% on board with everything else.
- rejectedandsad 5y ago
  This is correct, and one of the many reasons why I’m very glad President Biden came out against blanket loan forgiveness at the high end of $50k even though Schumer, AOC, Warren support it
wolverine876 5y ago
> Tom Cotton... Harvard University BA , JD > You are right that it fits the public narrative & rhetoric, but many (perhaps most) of them went to elite schools. It is probably just posturing. Oh yeah; I didn't mean to say otherwise. Most of what they say is posturing, IMHO.
handrous 5y ago
Forget elite universities: IIRC exactly one of the last eight Presidential candidates (from the two parties that matters) in the general election didn't attend a private prep high school. (Hillary Clinton, is the one who didn't). [EDIT] I know Cotton isn't one of them, I'm just pointing out that this elitism sure as hell appears to be a driving factor in who's on top in both parties.
- rkk3 5y ago
  Don't think Biden went to prep school, He didn't even go to an Ivy. So 7/9? Edit: Correction I forgot McCain Bush - Philips Academy Gore - St Albans School Kerry - St Pauls Obama - Punahou School (On scholarship!) McCain - Episcopal High School Romney - Cranbrook School Trump - New York Military Academy
  - handrous 5y ago
    Biden: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archmere_Academy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archmere_Academy
tester756 5y ago
>It is probably just posturing. What makes you think so? Just because I have degree, then it doesn't mean that I'm not talking shit about academia

by rkk3 5y ago

tootie 5y ago

On that note, the liberal cry of student loan forgiveness will overwhelmingly favor people who went to expensive private colleges. Taxing big endowments seems pretty senseless and doesn't create any positive incentives either. More support and less stigma against state schools would probably do the most good.

rkk3 5y ago
> the liberal cry of student loan forgiveness will overwhelmingly favor people who went to expensive private colleges. True, but you can be expensive & private & not be elite (most of them are not by definition).
wolverine876 5y ago
> the liberal cry of student loan forgiveness What if we dropped the inflammatory political attack and just talked about loan forgiveness? Can an idea or anything else be depoliticized. And it does have some benefits, in addition to that drawback. I'm not sure about the extent or nature of it - many leading colleges reduce their prices to get the students in the door - has anyone studied it?
- tootie 5y ago
  I count myself as a liberal but also a wonky liberal. The fact the progressive agitators don't have sound evidence for the validity of their ideas beyond number of retweets bugs the hell out of me. Student loan forgiveness would most likely be a net positive it's just going to be quite expensive for relatively little reward. Incremental wins on health care and progressive taxation will be much simpler and more beneficial.
  - wolverine876 5y ago
    You're a "wonky liberal", but it's the lack of sound evidence for progressive ideas that bothers you? Issues like climate change? Mass incarceration? Racism? Universal health care? Vaccinating people and wearing masks (not a position limited to progressives)? There's not another part of the political spectrum that lacks sound evidence? That's a bit mind-boggling, but not the first time I've seen it. My hypothesis: Middle-ground liberals are intimidated by abusive conservatives, but they feel safe criticizing progressives. You won't get flamed on HN, for example, for what you posted.
    - tootie 5y ago
      No, no not at all. I'm only talking about student loan debt. I'm 100% on board with everything else.
rejectedandsad 5y ago
This is correct, and one of the many reasons why I’m very glad President Biden came out against blanket loan forgiveness at the high end of $50k even though Schumer, AOC, Warren support it

wolverine876 5y ago

> Tom Cotton... Harvard University BA , JD > You are right that it fits the public narrative & rhetoric, but many (perhaps most) of them went to elite schools. It is probably just posturing. Oh yeah; I didn't mean to say otherwise. Most of what they say is posturing, IMHO.

handrous 5y ago

Forget elite universities: IIRC exactly one of the last eight Presidential candidates (from the two parties that matters) in the general election didn't attend a private prep high school. (Hillary Clinton, is the one who didn't). [EDIT] I know Cotton isn't one of them, I'm just pointing out that this elitism sure as hell appears to be a driving factor in who's on top in both parties.

rkk3 5y ago
Don't think Biden went to prep school, He didn't even go to an Ivy. So 7/9? Edit: Correction I forgot McCain Bush - Philips Academy Gore - St Albans School Kerry - St Pauls Obama - Punahou School (On scholarship!) McCain - Episcopal High School Romney - Cranbrook School Trump - New York Military Academy
- handrous 5y ago
  Biden: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archmere_Academy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archmere_Academy

tester756 5y ago

>It is probably just posturing. What makes you think so? Just because I have degree, then it doesn't mean that I'm not talking shit about academia