Classic misdirection by the White House. Well played, Mr. President. Who doesnt want more free stuff, and education is an inherently good thing, so whats not to like? How about unintended outcomes (..the details are still being worked out...). Some considerations: 1.) Does free community college devalue it to the point where it simply becomes an additional and optional 2 years of extended high school? 2.) Will this program be funded and run by the federal government, or dumped on the states to fund and execute? 3.) If its run by the feds, what will constitute acceptable curriculum? Do we want the feds involved in that? 4.) Will there be limits on what can be studied, or can a student use the taxpayers money to take 2 years of gender studies (voted rankers #1 most useless college major)? 5.) Who will decide what courses of study are acceptable (Dems fighting against gunsmithing, Republicans trying to ban Theater Arts) and how will that not become a political minefield? 6.) How do community college professors like the idea of becoming Federal Employees (if 100% of their salary comes from a federally subsidized program thats essentially whats happening)? 7.) Will a 2 year degree from the public schools be valued as much as 2 years of study from a private, non-government college? If not, how will these credits be transferable to private institutions? 8.) Can the current set of community colleges absorb the influx of new students? 9.) Finally, the question that the left NEVER likes to ask: how the hell are we going to pay for it? Like I said, classic misdirection move by the White House. Theres no way to get this happening in Os remaining time in office, and he knows it. He has no plan to make it happen. Its essentially a throwaway to give him a nice little bump in the polls, because anytime Uncle Sugar throws out a new entitlement, the sheep rush to the trough looking for the goodies.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 21:36:43 +0000