Germany has long shown far greater foresight than the United States in the investment into science, infrastructure, and alternative energy — investments that are now giving the country huge returns as a leading economic system. With a decision of Lower Saxony, the German have now shown precisely how serious they are about keeping the country as one of the most educated in the world: they have eliminated all college and university tuition. The Germans view education as not just a right, but an essential component for continued growth.
There are critics to educational subsidies who raise some good-faith issues of how such payments can eliminate pressure to make efficient choices and actually drive up costs. I actually see value to students paying some tuition. However, with tuition sky rocking in the United States and falling enrollment numbers, the United States is heading to a reckoning in the future for our lack of investment in our workforce. While we have spent trillions of dollars on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (and just renewed our commitment to the later to keep forces in the country), we have continued to cut environmental, scientific, educational, and infrastructure investments. The inevitable result is that we will continue to drop in our competitiveness in the world market and the future economy. Every other country is investing heavily in education while the United States continues to be distracted by shiny objects with more immediate political benefits for politicians.
What is striking is that it is not just third world countries that are investing heavily education, but economic leaders like Germany.
Notably, tuition was only introduced in Germany in 2006 after the German Constitutional Court ruled that limited fees do not violate the country’s commitment to universal education. However, the tuition rates proved unpopular and the country is now tuition free. Of course, there is no such thing as free tuition. The taxpayers are footing the bill. Moreover, such government subsidies can have a negative impact on not just the choices of students (who feel less pressure to make efficient choices) but on schools which are dependent on the government.
Nevertheless, the contrast could not be greater with the United States in terms of the commitment to education as not just a right (as it is in Germany) but as a real national security priority.
The article below has an interesting discussion of how England rejected the free tuition approach but has lost more money due to the higher student default rate on tuition. Yet, the English students face a maximum debt load of $14,550 per year where U.S. tuition rates and debt are soaring. Student loan debt in our country now stands at $1.2 trillion.
Of course, that is less than a third of the costs for the wars, but no one is making such comparisons.
http://thinkprogress.org/education/2014/10/01/3574551/germany-free-college-tuition/
The European economy is tanking, and starting to effect our meager recovery here.
Somebody PLEEZE delete reality.
It is bothering them.
I see some young Chinese students @ UW wearing Mao hats. They need to learn some REAL history on that monster. But, maybe I’m reading too much into it. Maybe it’s just a fashion statement. I wear a SF Giants hat because I think it’s the most attractive of any sports hat. My little bit of vanity.
Nick – Mao is on the outs in mainland China. They try not to talk about him.
Paul Schulte wrote: “Mao is on the outs in mainland China. They try not to talk about him.”
I’m not so sure, Paul. I was in Beijing, China last year. Right across the street from Tiananmen Square is the Forbidden City. The Tiananmen Gate is decorated with a huge portrait of Mao Zedong. If you are on the area, it would be most difficult to overlook the portrait. It is big, larger than life, and quite obvious. On each side is written in Chinese, “Long Live the People’s Republic of China” and “Long live the Great Unity of the World’s Peoples.” In the middle of Tiananmen Square is his huge mausoleum. Considering he died in 1976, it sure looks like somebody in government still loves him and talks about him. Although China no longer follows his economic policies, the Communist Party he created is still in power and credits Mao Zedong as being their founding father.
david – while you were is China did you ask anyone what they did during the Cultural Revolution? That is the key.
We have a friend who works for the US Attorneys office. He travels for the DOJ giving seminars on US Criminal Justice. He loves the Czech Republic and says it is his favorite place to visit in Europe. He had a bunch of mainland China attorneys visit here after giving a seminar in China. I saw them when I was on jury duty in state court. Almost all men. All wore the same suit. I was hoping to see some Mao hats, but didn’t.
David: I haven´t been to the Czech Republic yet either. And it is relatively close for me! Just too many other places to go…..Have a great time!
David: your tour of the Alps sounds fantastic. What a lucky girl your daughter is! Frankfurt is pretty cool. I especially like going to the English Theatre there.
Mango
I don’t see anything at 11:20 either, my god are we making this personal attack on Annie day?
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Attacking Annie is their form of sex.
They entered weblock together, and fetish after fetish are produced by their open murriage.
It’s the happy thingy.
Annie
I didn’t mention anyone’s wife at 11:27. I was asking a question, not making a statement. It’s interesting that some here personalize their comments directed at other’s all the time, they suspect other’s of doing so too. Projection is what it’s called.
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You did not know about their marriage?
It is the American Dream team unitied in weblock.
That is what 11:27 means, it is code.
Dredd, absolutely a trance. A society engaged in self deception on a huge scale, amazing.
po@minutebol
Perhaps we should step back a minute and identify what we see as the American dream?
…
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Can you say “trance” (Comparing a Group-Mind Trance to a Cultural Amygdala)?
Mango
I take back my suggestion that Nick be a guest blogger. The only one on here that is constantly negative is Nick. I am new here so I did not know what was going on. My Bad.
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You are now on the ignore list.
Rejoice.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/02/marijuana-pot-edible-death-colorado-denver/7220685/
Man leaps to death after bad experience with marijauna. A cautionary tale.
Annie – “Europeans have moved past this societal selfishness, if we were smart we could learn from them.”
Many Europeans have also moved to get away from their socialist countries.
Mango wrote: “Please no more racist remarks.”
LOL! You just proved Nick’s point. Thanks for the good laugh.
@ Mango
That seemed more like a fruity remark to me. I didn’t know that mangos had a racial affiliation.
😀
Paul,
How dare you think for yourself!
There is a new tropical fruit one here. Just sayn’.
There is an interesting story of an internet troll named Brenda Leyland. She stalked the McCann family in the UK who had their child abducted. She did so anonymously until she was exposed by a journalist. Ms. Leyland tragically committed suicide yesterday in a hotel room. A cautionary tale. There is a good piece on the Forbes website today, Internet Trolls really are Psycho.
We have had the discussion here many times about anonymity. JT is committed to it but is the first to admit he sees the people who use their real names are much more respectful and prudent than anonymous people. This Leyland person changed names from forum to forum, the most pernicious type trolls. As soon as I identify a troll they go on my ignore list. Everyone should have one.
Paul, WTF do you think I’m doing??? I am doing what should be done, not responding and respectfully requesting the personal comment be deleted. I can’t believe YOU are giving advice on ignoring. I have an ignore list and stick to it. You ignore nothing and no one and micromanage.
I agree with Darren’s post about the American Dream. And I’ve struggled financially, myself, when I was getting started. Lost my taste for Mac’n’cheese and Ramen noodles, because I reached my lifetime quota in my twenties.
Mango – if you read past threads, you will understand Annie’s references.
Nick – my suggestion is to ignore it. Don’t feed it. It’s easier for me to say it than do it, sometimes.