ColdBlueSteel

How about we start by getting a reasonable interest rate for student loans? 7.5% is outrageous.

funguy1949

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funguy1949

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vernon

youve got to be out of your mind,if you believe that.

vernon

that is the first budget in 6 yrs so what are you complaining about.

vernon

well im glad you your able to pay it.but its his an and he should be paying it.

vernon

yes they arent worth the cost.these loans just help collages inflate their coat and in reality they keep people out school.
have you ever thaught that some kids would be better of in trade school.

Dummy Boy Loc: Michigan

Don,
A couple of things. Do you mean wrecking our country? Wreaking is making it stink, which would be funny.

Are colleges and universities created and run by conservatives or liberals? I know how much it costs to send a kid to school, but really what are we getting for our money. Universities are funded through many sources: State Government, endowments, research grants, Federal largess and research. All of this money rarely if ever comes from liberals.

In my opinion, if schools are not really funded enough to charge for lower tuition, than they should be tasked to help to pay down the government costs, since they largely responsible for creating the mess in the first place.

Degree programs that have no real world application should be removed, let's take one slice from the University of Michigan:

Requirements for the Major: a minimum of five courses to be elected from (1) History and Theory and (2) Visual Studies, Performance and Studio Arts, completed by seven courses of Specialized Study. (Total: minimum of 12 courses)

History and Theory: There are two areas: (A) Historical Perspectives and (B) Issues of Modernity. Students take two courses in one area and one in the remaining area:
Historical Perspectives
RCHUMS 309 Classical Sources of Modern Culture
RCHUMS 310 Pagans, Christians, Barbarians in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages
RCHUMS 314 The Figure of Rome in Shakespeare and 16th-Century Painting
RCHUMS 315 Representations of History in the Literature and Visual Arts of Rome
RCHUMS 344 Reason and Passion in the 18th Century
RCHUMS 354 Race and Identity in Music
RCHUMS 373 The Performing Arts in South and Southeast Asia
Issues of Modernity
RCHUMS 290 Arts and Ideas of the 20th Century
RCHUMS 291 Arts and Ideas of the 19th Century
RCHUMS 305 Cultural Confrontations in the Arts
RCHUMS 308 Art and Culture: Arts and Ideas of South and Southeast Asia
RCHUMS 318 Critical Approaches to Literature
RCHUMS 342 Representing the Holocaust in Literature, Film and the Visual Arts
RCHUMS 356 The Symphonic Century; Music and Revolution in the 19th Century
RCHUMS 372 The Subject in the Aftermath of Revolution
Visual Studies, Performance, and Studio Arts: Two courses selected from one or more of the following areas.
Film/Video
RCHUMS 236 Art of the Film
RCHUMS 312 Central European Cinema
RCHUMS 313 Russian and Ukrainian Cinema
Dance
RCHUMS 235 Topics in World Dance
RCHUMS 260 The Art of Dance: An Introduction to American and European Dance History
RCHUMS 444 George Balanchine and the Transformation of American Dance
Studio Arts
RCARTS 268 Introduction to Visual Thinking and Creativity
RCARTS 269 Elements of Design
RCARTS 285 Photography
RCARTS 286 Sculpture
RCARTS 287 Printmaking
RCARTS 288 Introduction to Drawing
RCARTS 289 Ceramics
Music
RCHUMS 249 Foundations of Music
RCHUMS 250 Chamber Music
RCHUMS 251 Topics in Music
RCHUMS 252 Topics in Musical Expression
RCHUMS 253 Choral Ensemble
RCHUMS 256 Studying and Playing Southeast Asian Music
RCHUMS 258 Afro Cuban Drumming and Styles
RCHUMS 259 Musical Improvisation
RCHUMS 350 Creative Musicianship
RCHUMS 351 Creative Musicianship: Theory Lab
RCHUMS 352 Found Instruments

I really like the Afro Cuban Drumming and Styles class, I don't how many time at work I've been asked to provide a rendition of that at work.

If you don't have the money to pay for this crap, you can't get a degree in it-at least that's my policy.

I don't know how much impact that would have on student loans, but if just 20% of the students disappeared from these programs it would definitely force a closer look at where universities can take a cut.

nancyjess

its not that just that the wealthy get to go to college that is the statement here. i never could go to college . i am a avg white old woman now. but in my travels .. i knew people that worked two jobs.. night and day.. to get into college.! and was so appreciative filled with respect and humbleness to be able to go. Even working their way through.
most kids today think they are entitled to education..! no you have to earn it .. work for it and appreciate it . and then work again to pay what you owe back. Nothing worth anything is given but worked for.

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

If you'd bother to STOP - and do some research, you'd discover that it was Republicans who championed Federally backed student loans - and rightly so.

The US cannot compete globally with an uneducated populace. In fact, if the Congress were to remove most of the "Government service" perks that they so love and enjoy - they could eliminate most of the student debt. We'll see pretty quickly this year, if Republicans are all talk. I expect they'll do their best to pauper old folks, the poor and the middle class - but maintain their own perks and privileges and those of the rich - leaving us just as indebted, but poorer for many years after.

MajorAhrens Loc: Myrtle Beach

Blade Runner, happy New Year and great post. The classes you posted are just the tip of the iceberg. It begins with grade school and the NEA. The liberals have made a deal with the devil in the form of no competition for the public school system. The mention of school vouchers sends liberals into a rage. Most kids entering college read at a 9th grade level. So what's the solution? remedial courses just so they "learn" what they had 12 years to. And then the indoctrination starts all over. We know the "professors" are the burn out rejects of the 60's, but instead of running to Canada to "protest" they can do it in the comfort of a college setting. Blade, how disgusting is it that the very people who defend these dregs are banned from campus or have to go to a designated area,( wouldn't want to traumatize the little darlings with military info), to pass out information about our armed services. But the courses you provided on your post fit right in with the mush they're already spoon fed. The people who were asked the questions about everything from what party was Lincoln in to Brad Pitts wife was a sad but true display of the liberal education in this country. And with the president more worried about gay marriage, killer cops on every corner, and teaching his imaginary son how to act ad sickening. What he should be doing is creating real jobs,( not 28 hours a week so employers don't have to deal with the monstrosity that is Obamacare) , the ones that don't pay illegals under the table, his administration cleared of all the Muslims who want to destroy America and our way of life. This is one reason kids know more about every American Idol winner but can't tell you who the VP is. By all means lets continue on this path, and don't forget about admitting minorities to any college they choose just so we can be PC never mind the fact that the majority of these kids are less prepared than their counterparts due to the liberal policy of no charter schools or vouchers that will give a kid in a failing school,( think inner city), s chance at a real education. But it's the cold hearted conservative that's to blame. Tis a DISGRACE.

vernon

cry me a river.

Not-a-RINO Loc: Michigan

I couldn't agree more! You ask college grads simple questions about anything and you'll get blank stares, guesses and "I dunno". Unless the field of study is in something tangible such as medicine, engineering or other practical field, college for the most part is a waste of time. Much more could be done with courses in skilled trades and crafts, for example. Give me someone who has common sense, enthusiasm and a solid work ethic and they could be trained them for any position.

Here are some other 4-year degrees students could take and graduate with no marketable skills:

1. Queer studies. Washington State, Mills College, DePaul, and others.
2. Poetry. Southern New Hampshire University amongst many others.
3. Star Trek. Georgetown University.
4. Queer Musicology. UCLA
5. Golf Management. Florida Gulf Coast University and The University of Birmingham.

There are many, many more patently useless 4-year degrees where the students can pile up massive debt with loans and not be able to find a job that pays enough to make the premiums. Even if the field of study is a valid one, most colleges require a whole litany of worthless classes unrelated to the degree itself - which students/parents get to pay for.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

Lack of repayment of loans is a major problem, because the money is then not available for loaning to someone else. Two things that, if changed, would increase the repayment are loaning to those who have proven to be able to complete college by their exceptional grade in hard subject in high school and not loaning for useless degrees. A student who barely makes a C average is probably not going to make it past the first year of college, while those with B or better averages will stand a better chance. Good grades in the math and sciences are of more value that good grades in poetry and art classes. Both poetry and art are worth studying but are not going to make you employable. Those whose goals are college degrees in Women's studies, gay studies, the value of comic books in reflecting life, or magic as a form of entertainment, or for that matter movies as an expression of self, are not going to be able to pay back the loans on a "would you like fries with that?" pay. The other thing that would help make loan repayment more likely is to stop affirmative action loans to major universities. If you cannot get into a top college on your grades, start at a local college you can afford and if your grades are good enough, then apply for a loan for your junior and senior year My suggestions are not politically correct so would never come into being, and I know that, but it would be a better solution than what is happening now..

ColdBlueSteel

Some of these moronic courses are offered so that "student athletes" can obtain passing grades while participating in the schools athletics program.