A few nights ago we all (or a lot of us) watched the second presidential debate. I was not very excited about the debate because I knew education would not be a primary topic in the economic state that we are in.
Much to my surprise the very first topic was on college graduates and the two candidates did not play nice. The below conversation ensued and I began to fume!!!
I paraphrase.
Jeremy Epstein: I am told that I will not be able to get a job when I graduate college. What do you plan to do as president to help college grads?
Mitt Romney: I'll create more jobs and meanwhile I will make sure you can get loans that you can work off after you get a job I'll create for you. When do you graduate?
Jeremy: 2014
Mitt: Call me. I'll make sure you get a job.
Barack Obama: Don't listen to those who say you want get a job. Your future is bright. We will definitely help you Jeremy. First, I plan to bring high paying manufacturing jobs back to America so that we can all go to work. Second,We need to get more people educated. Third, Energy is key for your education. I'll tax the rich people to help pay for your education :)!
Candy Crowley (debate moderator): Jeremy doesn't graduate for 2 years...what will you do for those who are graduating right now?
Mitt: Uh...well the president hasn't put these people back to work. Uh...I've got a 5-point plan. I'll create more jobs! Detroit should have gone through bankruptcy so they could get stronger!!!!
Barack: Liar!!! Detroit can't go bankrupt and get stronger...and don't take my word for it. Your policies (and yes I am the incumbent) are the reason everything is so bad. I'm like Robin Hood (take from the rich and give to the poor) and your like Ironman (rich and use your money for your own causes). That is the way you have been. America ask yourself...who would you rather be president Robin Hood or Ironman?
Mitt: Nothing the president just said is true.
Candy: Shut up! We're moving on.
(to fact check my paraphrasing watch the first 10 min)
Now my rant:
So I was pretty excited to hear the topic of education come up right off the bat....but...not so excited that the candidates dodged Jeremy all together.
My problem with the answer that they give to Jeremy is it is completely rhetoric (not that I expect much else). Jeremy asked why I am I wasting my time and money (or someones money) in college if I can't get a job?
And they both said don't worry we'll create jobs. Of course the jobs that were discussed were manufacturing jobs.
Side note: The manufacturing jobs are no longer available because they were shipped overseas. Why? Because they were low skill, low wage jobs and even lower wages wherever they are now! Suppose we can bring them back...Jeremy's college degree is really necessary for these jobs.
Mitt promised more jobs and personally guarantees Jeremy a job and leaves it at that... Barack laid out 4 things he would do. Lets take a look:
- We have to create more jobs - Yes that's brilliant, I am no longer in doubt. I am sorry for asking such a simple question.
- We have to educate more people - It's not enough that you are having problems finding a job but I want to increase your competition by getting even more college grads.
- We have to make our own energy - Are you even talking about education anymore?
- We have to pay for it by taxing the rich - Okay that's fair.
It is so frustrating to see two candidates who do not have any concern for the college graduates or the exorbitant tuition hikes we have seen. In fact they would prefer students to continue to pay these prices despite the fact that a college education is no longer a step above the crowd.
Everyone and their brother has a bachelors degree. It is an diluted degree. 50 years ago no one had a bachelors degree and it made you significantly better than your competition, however that is not true any longer. You can now get MIT, Stanford, and Harvard education for free online/youtube. It is not the education that has value...it is the degree.
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