Germany just eliminated tuition, while Americans are drowning in $1.2 trillion student loan debt.

[Democrats Ramshield]

Germany just eliminated tuition, while Americans are drowning in $1.2 trillion student loan debt.
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(Excerpt posted by author)

Written by an American MBA expat living in Germany.

Germany has just joined other nations of the Continental European Union to eliminate all university tuition, as a human right. So it is that we find ourself as part of the neo
feudalist American state that has left Americans mired by contrast in $1.2 trillion in student loan debt, in what must be described as state supported student loan slavery. It should further be noted that the modus operandi of student loan enslavement is consistent with the anti-democratic model of what may only be described as the United States of oligarchy, where a recent Princeton university study, that has since gone viral from Princeton, has declared the United States is no longer a democracy, and is in fact become an oligarchy. To which this article notes it is an oligarchy that has mired the American people in $1.2 trillion of student loan debt. This has become so onerous for the American economy to bear that it is now become a threat to the US economy itself.

TMC ByBrendan JamesPublishedApril 18, 2014,
"A new study from Princeton spells bad news for American democracy—namely,
that it no longer exists".

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Link: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/10/03/1334013/-Germany-just-eliminated-tuition-while-Americans-are-drowning-in-1-2-trillion-student-loan-debt

[CincyDem]

1. That's what you can do...

...when you don't spend $1.2trillion bombing sand dunes in the middle east.

Imagine, domestic nation building. What a concept.

[City Lights]

2. Our MIC is sucking us dry. nt

[Dustlawyer]

8. Along with Wall Street, don't forget! As Forest Gump would say, "Like peas and carrots!"

[City Lights]

9. Very true! nt

[morningfog]

3. If we can afford any new war without even discussing costs,

we can afford higher education. And debt forgiveness for those still in debt with fed ed loans.

[Initech]

20. There's one reason why education and health care can't be free...

In the land of "freedom" - no money to be made for the leeches. We'll gladly spend $600 billion unchecked to fight a new boogeyman, but when it comes to fixing problems at home, nothing will come of it. Education is the cure for fear, and the GOP can't get elected without a fearful populace. So they keep us stupid, ignorant, and fearful, it keeps them elected, it helps the military industrial complex keep the perpetual for profit war machine going. It sucks.

[treestar]

4. It can't have been eliminated

It is that someone other than the students will pay for it. Professors aren't going to work for nothing, I would hope.

[Lochloosa]

5. Your right. It's called everyone investing in the future of your country.

[rock]

7. Right you are

And remember, our politicians cannot stand an educated electorate!

[treestar]

33. That's good, but we don't know how it is being paid for

I remember earlier threads on this and if it comes from proportionate taxes, fine.

[ladjf]

6. Smart people and dumb people. nt

[polichick]

21. I recently had dinner with a German who asked why...

Americans demand so little of our gov't. That really is the question.

[ladjf]

22. I don't agree that our problem is that we don't demand

enough from the Government. It's a lot more complicated than that.

First, we have allowed the pathological greedy people to get the upper hand while the rest of us are just trying to make a living and raise our families. And now, with the winning hand, the greedy invest huge sums of money creating propaganda and buying politicians to the extent that it no longer matters what the bulk of Americans do or say about the Government.

All studies show the results of the process. But none seem to offer good solutions for turning things around.

Anyone with at least a half of a brain knows that increasing the taxes on the uber rich would solve many of the problems. That , of
course , is not about to happen since the rich people control Congress, the Supreme Court, a majority of the Governors as well as the police.

[polichick]

23. The people have to make demands. When the SC ruled on Citizens United, the people should have...

been in the streets by the millions. People should have raised hell when the prez talked about looking forward regarding war criminals. (Just two out of hundreds of times we, the people, accepted what was happening.)

[ladjf]

24. I totally agree with your logic. But, my point is that Americans are so brain damaged

by the constant barrage of professionally produced propaganda and so worried about paying the bills they just aren't able to get out and to the politically active right things that they should be doing. Too many Americans are battered, broke and discouraged.

Recent studies are indicating that the political input from the majority of Americans is having very little influence on the real outcomes.


I don't mean that we all might as well sit down and do nothing. We've got to try. Sorry I don't have a good solution for our dilemma.

[polichick]

25. I agree, they have people where they want us - "battered, broke and discouraged"...

Democracy doesn't work unless gov't is afraid of the people (Jefferson, I think) - we have to atop allowing ourselves to be divided by propaganda and fear and demand that our leaders serve us.

I see some hope in the younger generation's deep mistrust of all traditional institutions and in their use of global media, not to mention their digital connections.

[Hortensis]

26. Germans see their government as THEIR government, existing to serve them, as ours is meant to.

At least more than our generations of today have come to.

That's because our right-wing authoritarian leaders have worked long to eliminate our understanding of ownership and to portray our government as a separate authority that should be both obeyed and prevented from impeding the choices of the "deserving wealthy."

[polichick]

27. "Germans see their government as THEIR government" - What a concept!

[BlindTiresias]

30. Why?

Despite all the chest thumping about freedom Americans are actually quite servile.

[polichick]

32. Also easily divided - if "their team" is in charge they don't question much.

[whatthehey]

10. but the European system in general would draw much ire here

You can't just decide at 18 to waltz into Heidelberg with a 2.0 GPA (well, the German equivalent) and get your tuition paid.

There are rigorous standardized tests (horror!) even to get into a gymnasium - the school system that makes university entrance much more likely although it's not quite mandatory any more - at 10 or so. There are more controlled curricula to pass within this 9-yr almost entirely academic school, and then standardized tests to gain entry into university. The whole university system there is much like the top schools here, very competitive and selective for acceptance. There are more and less prestigious universities of course, but none are as easy to be accepted at as a normal US state university, and the entry criteria are very much more focused on academics than subjective personal criteria. The German taxpayers aren't going to give a sub-par student a free ride just because he helps old ladies across the street.

I believe the European system is superior, but applying it here would immediately raise complaints about elitism and centrally imposed standards.

[Democrats Ramshield]

12. To whatthehey - I disagree with everything you said

But be that as it may, what you're looking at is completely untenable. $1.2 trillion in student loan debt is now hurting the entire US economy. The debt is too big not to fail.

It keeps getting bigger and bigger. The pressure on the entire (17 trillion dollar) economy is getting bigger and it's affecting everyone even people who don't have student loan debt. We have to find our way out of the swamp, brother or everyone keeps getting hurt.

Your housing costs are higher because of someone's student loan debt...someone you don't even know. Same is true of interest rates....hell the whole housing market is down. Please go back and read the article that I wrote.

Something has to be done. It has to stop. You have to stop victimizing the whole US economy with $1.2 trillion in student loan debt because it's too large not to fail.

[Throd]

13. You didn't address anything whatthehey said.

If the German system was applied here, people would get their feelings hurt. In America, everyone is special.

[Democrats Ramshield]

15. Throd, I couldn't agree with you

Ah..yes. We're all special because of American exceptionalism, which is now exceptionally slowing the entire US economy now. The 1.2 trillion dollar in student loan debt is affecting the housing construction industry, it's affecting the new car sales industry and it's affecting interest rates (even if you don't have a student loan). All that this guy can see is the fictitious Univ. of Heidelberg that he likely has never seen, as if that were the do all and Germany were the only place in Europe that offers free tuition. It isn't by a long shot, it's not just Germany.

Look it up. Please let's wake up America.

[Dreamer Tatum]

18. Hahaha. Man, are people delusional about Europe sometimes.

Europe is a tough, badass place as far as education goes. It might be free of charge, but the Europeans expect something for their investment. The slacker bullshit a lot of American students pull wouldn't work in a typical European university.

[Dreamer Tatum]

19. Americans would never stand for being told they're trade school material.

Yet that happens in Germany every single day as part of their educational system.

[BlindTiresias]

31. Well it is a little different

In Germany being in the trades is not a relegation as skilled workers make very good wages across the board and have less uncertainty about the quality of their employment or whether they will be employed. They have some of the highest rates of unionization in the world too, so being "merely" a worker does not make one powerless in the same way it does the United States.

Very different situation from here in the US, and I suspect if working conditions and pay improved then being in the trades would not be considered a bad thing.

[Democrats Ramshield]

11. Everyone, please feel free to share my article on Facebook and Twitter

Thank you.

[RadiationTherapy]

14. The most influential positions at universities are now sources of wealth for their occupants

scraped off of the backs and teeth of underpaid staff and overburdened students. This will not change soon. It is unlikely you have heard of my tiny university, but our president makes more per annum ($450k+) than the POTUS and compensation includes free house and car, platinum insurance, matched retirement funds, and seemingly endless catered events.

None of this will change peacefully.

[Democrats Ramshield]

16. RadiationTherapy - Well said

Please share my article with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you for your support. It really means a lot. All the best to you.

[polichick]

17. Treasuring education and the next generation's future? Anti-American.

[madamvlb]

28. Wunderbar!!

[KurtNYC]

29. No tuition?! How will they pay for their football coaches and programs?

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/salaries/

(snark)

[moondust]

34. Profits uber alles!