Education is not "free"
Any education you get, K-12 through college, is being paid for in some manner. Sanders is proposing to use federal resources, obtained through taxation, to make a higher education more attainable. Right now, the federal government as well as state and local governments are already doing this with both K-12 education and college education and in every case, it is never enough to meet the needs of their respective communities, states or our country.
This "free stuff" meme is bullshit and right-wing nonsense that is being used as a wedge issue against Democrats by "Democrats". The fact is we are seeing people, right here on DU, that would deny (limit, control or otherwise restrict) access to higher education based on financial or geographical location (i.e. Limit to local community college only) is disheartening.
The issue is a simple one, we are either in this to win or not.
Access to higher education is not a luxury.
A common argument is that we are giving them a free education to get rich or they are already rich.
Really? Because I know of several engineers that cannot find a job or a job in their field or a job in their field that pays more than a job with no education at Costco.
Hell, I work in IT and I am the only person in my group, doing like work, that has a college degree even though the job requires it. We all get paid the same.
The point is a college education is not a guarantee that you will be successful. It is not a guaranteed path to financial success or security.
That is not what an education is supposed to do.
An education is a basis for a well-rounded, knowledgeable individual what at least an entry-level of understanding in their degree program right from day one. A graduate degree means you have specialized entry-level understanding in a very specific thing or subject. No degree makes you an subject matter expert or a leading authority on anything.
In short, a degree means you have a better starting point, in a given field of study, than someone that does not.
Why does lowering the barriers to entry for a higher education matter to everyone, if you attend college or not? Ever go to college at all? Are near the end of you life or at the beginning of it? Why does it matter and impact everyone, from a young child in a remote village in The Central African Republic to a business executive in New York City?
By reducing barriers to entry and having a highly educated workforce, in every field from philosophy to engineering, we foster an environment of innovation, exploration and development that could benefit everyone. An educated population fosters a more informed, questioning voter. They are more likely to have a better understanding of issues like global warming and institutional racism and how to address those problems.
The burden should be shared because we all benefit from its outcome.
A more educated population ensures a stronger, more resilient and more stable nation.
That is why Sanders proposal is a good start but even it doesn't go far enough.
We will only be as successful, as a nation, when we are willing to invest the time, money and effort to ensure we are all successful.
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