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I don’t think it’s a good idea to use blindly throw tax dollars at degrees which ultimately aren’t going to produce any economic value. We should be taking this

by dymk 4y ago

I don’t think it’s a good idea to use blindly throw tax dollars at degrees which ultimately aren’t going to produce any economic value. We should be taking this idea and applying it to trades schools, though.

wolverine876 4y ago
You assume they have no value, which is a popular talking point pushed by those who are anti-liberal (and therefore don't want people educated) or care only for low taxes (I'm not saying that's you, just that you repeating it.) But repetition, as we learn in college, has zero relationship to accuracy. First, a goal of any talking point, which the reactionaries construct at a very sophisticated level (a skill of the humanities, which they want to deny to everyone else), is to frame the question. By making it a question of purely economic value, that would seem to attack liberalism and education at their weakest point - kind of like wanting to take down Tom Brady's reputation and so defining quarterbacks by their running ability. Again, understanding that is a product of humanities education. Life, freedom, the welfare of the nation, depend on far more than economic output. That's just one element of many. And also, we have very strong evidence that college degrees do have great economic value: The people whose economic success depends on it will pay people with college degrees far more. Where is your evidence otherwise? My personal experience, and current experience with someone currently in college, is the education is invaluable. It's transformative. I can't imagine who I would be without what the knowledge and especially the thinking that I learned in college.
- orangecat 4y ago
  And also, we have very strong evidence that college degrees do have great economic value Yes. Which is why it's absurd for for people who obtained this valuable asset to demand handouts from people who didn't.
  - danaris 4y ago
    You are conflating "economic value to the educated" with "value to the economy". In aggregate, having an educated populace is hugely beneficial to society as a whole, which includes economic benefits. This does not translate to commensurate economic benefits to all the individuals who get that education. Our society benefits from these people having an education; therefore, our society should pay for it.
    - wolverine876 4y ago
      It's not just transactional - i.e., 'we benefit so we pay'; don't let the reductionists frame the debate. We also should do it because people deserve freedom and opportunity. It's the Land of Opportunity, not the land of rapacious capitalism; it's the Land of Hope and Dreams, not of self-dealing.

by dymk 4y ago

wolverine876 4y ago

You assume they have no value, which is a popular talking point pushed by those who are anti-liberal (and therefore don't want people educated) or care only for low taxes (I'm not saying that's you, just that you repeating it.) But repetition, as we learn in college, has zero relationship to accuracy. First, a goal of any talking point, which the reactionaries construct at a very sophisticated level (a skill of the humanities, which they want to deny to everyone else), is to frame the question. By making it a question of purely economic value, that would seem to attack liberalism and education at their weakest point - kind of like wanting to take down Tom Brady's reputation and so defining quarterbacks by their running ability. Again, understanding that is a product of humanities education. Life, freedom, the welfare of the nation, depend on far more than economic output. That's just one element of many. And also, we have very strong evidence that college degrees do have great economic value: The people whose economic success depends on it will pay people with college degrees far more. Where is your evidence otherwise? My personal experience, and current experience with someone currently in college, is the education is invaluable. It's transformative. I can't imagine who I would be without what the knowledge and especially the thinking that I learned in college.

orangecat 4y ago
And also, we have very strong evidence that college degrees do have great economic value Yes. Which is why it's absurd for for people who obtained this valuable asset to demand handouts from people who didn't.
- danaris 4y ago
  You are conflating "economic value to the educated" with "value to the economy". In aggregate, having an educated populace is hugely beneficial to society as a whole, which includes economic benefits. This does not translate to commensurate economic benefits to all the individuals who get that education. Our society benefits from these people having an education; therefore, our society should pay for it.
  - wolverine876 4y ago
    It's not just transactional - i.e., 'we benefit so we pay'; don't let the reductionists frame the debate. We also should do it because people deserve freedom and opportunity. It's the Land of Opportunity, not the land of rapacious capitalism; it's the Land of Hope and Dreams, not of self-dealing.