Food for thought - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

aklim · #16 08-22-2013, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

agreed.the student debt on some of them is so high they will probably never retire.just die with a debt.i remember a yr or 2 ago someone on here was renting out an apt or a house.they took apps from prospective renters.one of them was i believe in his middle to late 30's not married and had like 300k in student debt.this poor guy probably can't even make the interest payments,and all for what??an education.he should have just flipped burgers at mcd's he would be alot better off.

Like everything else, saying $300K in student debt is meaningless. There was an anti-smoking activist that was mentioned in Madison. He has been a "professional student" for who knows how long. Always coming close to graduating but not. Now if you spent that $300K to get a PhD in Sherlock Holmes, you might not get anywheres later on in life. OTOH, if you spent that same money in being in a job that pays, well, it is different. An education doesn't mean squat if you get something that nobody wants.

First thing is to look at job prospects when you are about to get an education. Ask yourself, "what can I possibly make if I graduate?". Put it this way, you can talk about how you would increase your satisfaction to know more about Sherlock Holmes but if you cannot pay it back, it don't matter. First, deal with the financial end. See what you expect to earn. Determine the education's worth IN QUANTIFIABLE TERMS. After that you can talk about all the intangibles you want. Now if you put your deep desires ahead of all else, well, you get what you get.

Honus · #17 08-22-2013, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike D

Apples and oranges.

Sweden 9.5 million.

USA 313+ million....

Why would a smaller population make it easier to educate people? We have more people to educate but also more people to pay for it.

I know nothing about Sweden or whether its system is better or worse than ours, but I agree with the basic point of the cartoon which is that America needs to start investing in its future. If the current austerity fad becomes long-term policy, we are going to be left behind with a bunch of uneducated, unhealthy people and lousy infrastructure. The GOP has given up on America. They say we can't afford to improve our infrastructure or take care of the poor. I'd say it's the opposite. We can't afford to not do those things. In the end, their austere ways will only leave us worse off, financially and otherwise.

SwampYankee · #18 08-22-2013, 09:52 AM

Meanwhile college tuition rates continue to increase at double the rate of inflation.

Simpler=Better · #19 08-22-2013, 09:58 AM

Ignore the education stuff, you can make it without a degree in the right fields.

What's more concerning is the police state/ prison setup.

Jorn · #20 08-22-2013, 10:56 AM

People are not immigrating to Sweden or other northern countries that much is because it's almost impossible to get a work visa.

spdrun · #21 08-22-2013, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honus

Why would a smaller population make it easier to educate people? We have more people to educate but also more people to pay for it.

Exactly.

spdrun · #22 08-22-2013, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

So you keep sayin but yet you obviously cannot and/or will not since if you could really do it, you'd be there. I'd rather sleep with different supermodels too but that ain't reality.

I'm splitting the next 12 months between Europe and the US, about 50/50. Already have tickets booked and a place to stay.

spdrun · #23 08-22-2013, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwitchKitty

"Contributing" to society is a mixed bag at best. If you believe that technology is the ultimate pursuit in life, you do. Not all do.

I definitely don't -- in fact, I found that I enjoy life more WITHOUT an iDevice and constant connectivity. Besides, we're pursuing the wrong type of technology -- lots of consumer trinkets, very slow progress on moving to clean energy platforms and general sustainability.

sloride · #24 08-22-2013, 11:21 AM

In most inner cities the drop out rate is around forty percent. So if you really want to add to the class warfare just give the sixty percent free higher education. Think about that sixty percent of the people entering the workforce with a degree and no college debt, should go over real well the have nots.

spdrun · #25 08-22-2013, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloride

In most inner cities the drop out rate is around forty percent. So if you really want to add to the class warfare just give the sixty percent free higher education. Think about that sixty percent of the people entering the workforce with a degree and no college debt, should go over real well the have nots.

And perhaps if the inner city youth could actually afford an education, then the drop-out rate wouldn't be so fsking high -- something to look forward to if they do well and don't drop out. Remember that dropping out is a choice, not a requirement just because you live in a certain area.

This should ease class warfare not add to it. And remember that the 60% who DO graduate are of the same "class" as the 40%. Just manage to have a bit more brains and/or ambition.

aklim · #26 08-22-2013, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honus

Why would a smaller population make it easier to educate people? We have more people to educate but also more people to pay for it.

I know nothing about Sweden or whether its system is better or worse than ours, but I agree with the basic point of the cartoon which is that America needs to start investing in its future. If the current austerity fad becomes long-term policy, we are going to be left behind with a bunch of uneducated, unhealthy people and lousy infrastructure. The GOP has given up on America. They say we can't afford to improve our infrastructure or take care of the poor. I'd say it's the opposite. We can't afford to not do those things. In the end, their austere ways will only leave us worse off, financially and otherwise.

I would think it is easier to make a meal for 5 people as opposed to 20.

What do you mean by the word 'investing'? Right now we have a pump and dump strategy. Pump money into the system and dump it out. Do we carefully screen the candidates? Are we willing do cut those that stop showing potential in favor of those that don't? I'm are we willing to treat the potential students like a stock and not simply buy?

aklim · #27 08-22-2013, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

Meanwhile college tuition rates continue to increase at double the rate of inflation.

It's an enterprise like any other. You charge what the market will bear. Why would you think it is a sacred cow?

aklim · #28 08-22-2013, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

I'm splitting the next 12 months between Europe and the US, about 50/50. Already have tickets booked and a place to stay.

IOW it isn't as good as you think it is.

spdrun · #29 08-22-2013, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

I would think it is easier to make a meal for 5 people as opposed to 20.

If you have four kitchens and four cooks, it's just as easy to make a meal for 20 people as it is for five people with one kitchen. Perhaps easier since the kitchens and cooks can share resources.

aklim · #30 08-22-2013, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloride

In most inner cities the drop out rate is around forty percent. So if you really want to add to the class warfare just give the sixty percent free higher education. Think about that sixty percent of the people entering the workforce with a degree and no college debt, should go over real well the have nots.

Think all you want but just because you build it doesn't mean they will come. So you give them a college education. Now what? Going to spoon-fed them the rest of their life? Think the world would also do the same?