Mark Small

The Boston Tea Party was a reaction to the 1773 Tea Act - the effect of which, actually, was to reduce taxes to the Colonies on tea. Ferling, p. 94. American history has been anti-tax. Colonists resented any taxation. 9/24

U.S. politicians only are popular if they promise “no” or lower taxes. Former VP Walter Mondale said he’d have to raise taxes. Mondale lost to Reagan who, in eight (8) years, increased the national deficit from $994 billion to $2.9 trillion. 10/24

People love “free” things. As already noted, until the 1960s students in California did not pay tuition for college. In Indiana tuition at I.U., in the early 1970s for in-state students only was twenty dollars ($20) per credit hour. 11/24

Public colleges and universities in California in the 1960s had to pay salaries and wages for faculty and other personnel. Campuses needed buildings, that, once built, used utilities and required care and upkeep. Of course there are many other expenses. 12/24

These facts seem obvious, but R somehow overlooked when people talk about “free” college. Education: as much a part of our infrastructure as roads & bridges. No one would expect to use these resources w/o $ 4 construction and maintenance. 13/24

Today: avg debt for 69% of college grads is $29,600 Debt for 14% of parents who took out loans for their kids is $35,600. We need strong post-secondary education, whether trad’l academic (college) or some form of professional training for a skill. 14/24

No other country - won’t say “advanced” country; not sure if USA is advanced anymore - heaps idiotic debt on students who go to college. We damage our future by dumping $ into a military as we kill people 4 little/no reason. 15/24

When ppl use terms like “free” ed’n, they fall into trap. If college is “free” 2 students who then go 2 college & party, avg taxpayers are made 2 feel they’re paying for keggers & middle- or lower-class kids in college R moochers. 16/24