US Government may forgive up to $3.5 Billion in student loans

[Algher]

@John_Mace

Let’s also keep this in perspective. Being a Stanford guy, it pains me to sing the praises of Berkeley, but it’s hard to argue that the two are not, academically, in the same league. Still, Berkeley tuition is 1/3 that of Stanford. Link.

Pains me more - my son is off to Cal. Better deal, since we don’t qualify for aid.

[puddleglum]

@even_sven

I believe the entire CA public education system, including community colleges, the mid-tier California State University system, and the top-tier University of California system were at one time fully subsidized. Even when I was a child, fees for community college were entirely nominal.

The idea, of course, was that a better educated populace pays for itself with a vibrant economy. And looking at California history, it seems like it worked. It’s baffling to me why we tore down one of the things that made us great.

While education can help an individual make more money, there is very little evidencethat that education can make a state or country’s grow faster. This is a type of composition fallacy. In fact if you accept that most of the gains to an individual from education are due to signalling and subsidies make people use more than they otherwise would, then the conclusion is that state spending on education is wasteful and it would be better economically if less was spent on education overall.

[Dr.Drake]

@puddleglum

While education can help an individual make more money, there is very little evidencethat that education can make a state or country’s grow faster. This is a type of composition fallacy. In fact if you accept that most of the gains to an individual from education are due to signalling and subsidies make people use more than they otherwise would, then the conclusion is that state spending on education is wasteful and it would be better economically if less was spent on education overall.

I strongly suspect that depends on how the money is spent. Stop funding education altogether and see how your economy benefits. A point of diminishing returns is not to say that supporting education is a waste of money.

[Deeg]

@John_Mace

Now, we have a Democratic Governor and a super-majority Democratic Legislature. Tuition is going up, not down.

Sometimes I get really tired of the “it’s all the conservative’s/Republican’s fault” excuses that get thrown around willy-nilly.

@even_sven

The idea, of course, was that a better educated populace pays for itself with a vibrant economy. And looking at California history, it seems like it worked. It’s baffling to me why we tore down one of the things that made us great.

I think it just became too expensive. California already has the highest income taxes and we all know they’re in financial straits. As John Mace has already pointed out both Democrats and Republicans have raised (or attempted to raise) tuition so it’s not due to political resistance.