Author Topic: Why is college so expensive? (Read 10019 times)

Bindare_Dundat · « **Reply #75 on:** May 04, 2009, 01:02:56 PM »

Quote from: The True Adonis on May 04, 2009, 12:32:58 PM

Trust me, you WANT medical protection. I know firsthand.

Those deadlifts almost killed ya huh?

Deicide · « **Reply #76 on:** May 04, 2009, 01:12:01 PM »

Quote from: Bindare_Dundat on May 04, 2009, 01:02:56 PM

Those deadlifts almost killed ya huh?

Actually TA is a medical doctor.

Hereford · « **Reply #77 on:** May 04, 2009, 06:27:11 PM »

Like Dr. Tran?

Soul Crusher · « **Reply #78 on:** May 04, 2009, 06:34:17 PM »

Quote from: Deicide on May 04, 2009, 01:12:01 PM

Actually TA is a medical doctor.

I thought he was the next einstein doing ground breaking research on the cure for aids, cancer, poverty, death, global warming, hurricanes, and flooding.

Was I wrong?

headhuntersix · « **Reply #79 on:** May 04, 2009, 06:38:19 PM »

Christ...we're not Norway..we're not Sweden. Those things aren't going to work here. Everything from the size of this country to our place in the world make it ridiculous. Thier lifestyle is completely different.

Hereford · « **Reply #80 on:** May 04, 2009, 10:51:13 PM »

Well according to TA if going to the doctor was free and going to school was free, we would live in a utopian wonderland...

Soul Crusher · « **Reply #81 on:** May 05, 2009, 05:20:42 AM »

Quote from: Hereford on May 04, 2009, 10:51:13 PM

Well according to TA if going to the doctor was free and going to school was free, we would live in a utopian wonderland...

I want free hookers and beers, is the govt going to provide that too?

gordiano · « **Reply #82 on:** May 06, 2009, 12:18:35 AM »

Quote from: 333386 on May 04, 2009, 10:04:59 AM

"There are some very smart people out there that would excel in college and develop their talents to the utmost potential but simply do not have the $$ and means to do so. This is really a bad thing when you look at it because overall, it robs the workforce of some people who would make truly outstanding employees."

That's the problem. The current system does not reward this type of person. It rewards the athlete, the slacker with rich parents, etc.

Yep.

Hereford · « **Reply #83 on:** May 06, 2009, 08:34:58 AM »

Quote from: 333386 on May 05, 2009, 05:20:42 AM

I want free hookers and beers, is the govt going to provide that too?

What you spend your public assistance and food stamps on is your business...

Fury · « **Reply #84 on:** May 06, 2009, 08:45:26 AM »

Quote from: 333386 on May 04, 2009, 10:04:59 AM

"There are some very smart people out there that would excel in college and develop their talents to the utmost potential but simply do not have the $$ and means to do so. This is really a bad thing when you look at it because overall, it robs the workforce of some people who would make truly outstanding employees."

That's the problem. The current system does not reward this type of person. It rewards the athlete, the slacker with rich parents, etc.

It's simple economics. Supply and demand. People are willing to pay that price so colleges are willing to charge it.

There may be starving Africans out in Darfur who are capable of curing AIDS yet they'll never have that opportunity. It's the way the world works.

Soul Crusher · « **Reply #85 on:** May 06, 2009, 08:53:14 AM »

"It's simple economics. Supply and demand. People are willing to pay that price so colleges are willing to charge it."

That is only because the SUPPLY is abundant due to the government providing all these loans at whatever cost is charged by the schools.

The True Adonis · « **Reply #86 on:** May 06, 2009, 09:34:40 AM »

Quote from: 333386 on May 06, 2009, 08:53:14 AM

"It's simple economics. Supply and demand. People are willing to pay that price so colleges are willing to charge it."

That is only because the SUPPLY is abundant due to the government providing all these loans at whatever cost is charged by the schools.

Uh, you need to address PRIVATE loans as well. The government is not the sole problem nor is it the majority of the problem as to why tuition is rising.

More college kids taking private loans
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 04.22.2009
advertisement

BERKELEY, Calif. — A study finds the number of college students taking out private student loans has risen sharply in recent years.
The report released Tuesday by the Berkeley, Calif.-based Project on Student Debt found that the percentage of all undergraduates who took private loans rose from 5 percent in 2003-04 to 14 percent in 2007-08.
At for-profit colleges and universities, the percentage of students taking out private loans jumped from 13 percent in 2003-04 to 42 percent in 2007-2008.

Soul Crusher · « **Reply #87 on:** May 06, 2009, 09:41:01 AM »

They often take those loans IN ADDITION to govt loans.

The True Adonis · « **Reply #88 on:** May 06, 2009, 09:44:35 AM »

Quote from: 333386 on May 06, 2009, 09:41:01 AM

They often take those loans IN ADDITION to govt loans.

You must also demonize the Private sector as well for contributing to inflation regarding Tuitition.

I don`t see you doing this and I wonder why.

Soul Crusher · « **Reply #89 on:** May 06, 2009, 09:49:47 AM »

Quote from: The True Adonis on May 06, 2009, 09:44:35 AM

You must also demonize the Private sector as well for contributing to inflation regarding Tuitition.

I don`t see you doing this and I wonder why.

Because the private sector loans are dischargable in bankrputcy as I understand it. I have to check though.

I agree that private loans for college are not a good thing though and largely contribute to the tuition inflation problem.

It is criminal how they bs these 18 y/o kids into taking out these insane loans.

Hereford · « **Reply #90 on:** May 06, 2009, 09:50:29 AM »

Quote from: BerzerkFury on May 06, 2009, 08:45:26 AM

It's simple economics. Supply and demand. People are willing to pay that price so colleges are willing to charge it.

There may be starving Africans out in Darfur who are capable of curing AIDS yet they'll never have that opportunity. It's the way the world works.

Nope, but that dumb-as-a-box-of-rocks college girl will get her student loans and be there for 7 years...

...Then (maybe) be qualified to waitress at Dennys... While (maybe) paying off her 75K debt.

shootfighter1 · « **Reply #91 on:** May 06, 2009, 10:25:53 AM »

Although Adonis and I disagree on some topics, I do think its a great idea to scrap the IRS and consider a national sales tax. The details (and exceptions for food/utilities/etc for the empoverished) could be debated and determined, but overall its a good idea.

Soul Crusher · « **Reply #92 on:** May 06, 2009, 10:27:52 AM »

Quote from: shootfighter1 on May 06, 2009, 10:25:53 AM

Although Adonis and I disagree on some topics, I do think its a great idea to scrap the IRS and consider a national sales tax. The details (and exceptions for food/utilities/etc for the empoverished) could be debated and determined, but overall its a good idea.

Agreed 100%. it would give people a choice of how much money to give to the govt.

shootfighter1 · « **Reply #93 on:** May 06, 2009, 10:27:57 AM »

There's no doubt that colleges are far too expensive and far too wasteful. With the gov giving so many loans and grants, colleges have no incentive to decrease costs and expenses. The result is a lot of waste and a lot of kids with incredible amounts of debt.

The Master · « **Reply #94 on:** May 06, 2009, 10:58:53 AM »

Quote from: The True Adonis on May 04, 2009, 07:31:22 AM

College should be free for all citizens. Facts and Knowledge should not be only for those that can afford it. George Washington`s sole goal which he placed more importance on than any other, was to establish a Free National University system for all Citizens. Sadly, his dream was never realized.

College is a For-Profit, Capitalistic system which is totally wrong. The idea is to make money, not educate.

The idea of college and its perception in the United States is also a gross failure. No longer are they places of learning, but instead have become just a place to get a certificate so that a business can see if you are saddled with debt, thus ensuring that you will not go anywhere and be nothing but an obedient worker.

They LOVE students with debt. “Choice depends on the freedom to choose. And if you’re shackled with debt, you don’t have the freedom to choose.
“People in debt become hopeless, and hopeless people don’t vote…. See, I think there are two ways in which people are controlled. First of all, frighten people, and, secondly, demoralize them. An educated, healthy and confident nation is harder to govern….
“We don’t want people to be educated, healthy and confident because they will get out of control. The top 1 percent of the world’s population owns 80 percent of the world’s wealth.
“It’s incredible that people put up with it. But they’re poor, they’re demoralized, they’re frightened, and therefore they think perhaps the safest thing to do is take orders and hope for the best.”

Tony Benn puts it VERY well here:

In Norway, most Colleges/Universities = free, and you get a scholarship from the gouvernment as well. The free colleges/unis = the ones with the highest quality as well.

Soul Crusher · « **Reply #95 on:** May 06, 2009, 11:04:45 AM »

That is a tiny population that lives off oil exports. That wont work here where not only do we have massive trade deficits, but we bow the enviro-nazis and wont sell or produce our own oil or other resources.

The True Adonis · « **Reply #96 on:** May 06, 2009, 11:15:00 AM »

Quote from: 333386 on May 06, 2009, 11:04:45 AM

That is a tiny population that lives off oil exports. That wont work here where not only do we have massive trade deficits, but we bow the enviro-nazis and wont sell or produce our own oil or other resources.

Sweden offers the same, Free Education and healthcare and they have no oil exports. Their exports are Iron Ore, Timber and Hydroelectricity.

The majority of their GDP is a trade based economy similar to ours.

We don`t have that much oil (only 8 years worth of oil under our current soil given our current consumption), nor can we sell our own cheaper than the Saudi`s, Canadians, Russians or even the Argentinians given the lack of volume we have. Oil is not a viable export for us whatsoever so you have no basis in blaming anyone for something that can and will never prove lucrative.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves

shootfighter1 · « **Reply #97 on:** May 06, 2009, 11:48:37 AM »

It is not easy to extrapolate Sweden's system to the US. Very different populations and huge size difference.

The True Adonis · « **Reply #98 on:** May 06, 2009, 12:27:17 PM »

Quote from: shootfighter1 on May 06, 2009, 11:48:37 AM

It is not easy to extrapolate Sweden's system to the US. Very different populations and huge size difference.

We already spend more per capita on education and healthcare than the Swedes do so the population argument is irrelevant.

BayGBM · « **Reply #99 on:** May 06, 2009, 01:25:39 PM »

The explosion in college costs (which started in the 80s) is intimately tied to the student loan industry. It is a long and complicated story but, in brief, the easy access to student loans gave colleges (especially private colleges) a green light to raise prices up and up and up.

You can read more about it here http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/05/collinge

Bear in mind there are legitimate costs to running a university: building & maintenance, recruiting and keeping faculty, staff, supplies, utilities, health insurance, etc. These costs never go away and they are constantly going up. Have you ever balked at your electric or water bill? Imagine what the electric or water bill is like for an entire dormitory (where almost no one pays attention to conservation). Now, imagine what the cost is for an entire campus with dozens of buildings from dorms, to libraries, to administration buildings!