Progressives have long been advocates for free college. This is partly due to their belief that higher education is a “right” and should be given to all. Though it’s true that education is of great importance, it does not mean taxpayers should be saddled with such massive debt in order to placate feelings.
Standing out from the pack of current Democratic presidential candidates on this issue is Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who does not support the idea of free four-year college. She said as much during a town hall Monday evening:
Klobuchar’s mention of the Trump administration as the reason to reject this idea is only partially correct. Yes, the national debt has increased in recent years under his command, but it was already high when President Barack Obama and his predecessors left office. If we’re being honest, there has been little to no concern about government spending on both sides of the aisle. To add to that by way of free college tuition for all would be incredibly unwise.
One aspect of the college question that is rarely considered is the societal peer pressure to attend a four-year school upon high school graduation. In the United States, pursuing higher education is considered a rite of passage and the next logical step into responsible adulthood. How much has this desire to belong or please others contributed to mounting personal debt that does not lead to meaningful job pursuits? Is the tendency to ask high school seniors, “So, where are you going to school in the fall?” doing more harm than good?
Of course, there are plenty of fields that require at least a four-year college degree including healthcare, teaching, accountancy, engineering, and computer science, to name a few. In addition, other majors, including English or history, are helpful if a student plans to attend law school after undergraduate education is complete. But how practical are degrees in gender studies, art history, philosophy, and theater? Personal interest may drive students to choose these paths, but at the end of their education, what can they show for it other than student loan payments?
This is why I’ve always appreciated Mike Rowe’s stance on the “college for all” mentality, which is directly related to the free college mindset driven by progressives and their ilk.
In July 2018, MarketWatch reported that the construction industry was having trouble finding young laborers for their high-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree. The shortage in this and other fields, such as HVAC, plumbing, and electrical work, will continue to have a ripple effect on the economy. Meanwhile, modern society is still convinced that everyone is both made for and must go to college in order to find personal worth and achieve future financial stability. Neither is true.
Along with rejecting the idea that taxpayers should pay for everyone to attend college, we should also be quick to remind others that college isn’t the only path to success. There are other career pursuits that have just as much potential and best of all, won’t leave a young person with student loan payments that already set them back at the starting line of adulthood.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner‘s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
