Viewpoint by Ciaran Lambert/tr news editor
American education has hit an all-time low. Some students go to college but quickly drop out. Or the ones that want to go simply can’t afford it.
So how can the U.S. expect to stay one of the world’s superpowers if its citizens are uneducated?
The simple answer is it can’t.
But public colleges and universities still have growing tuition rates that stop students wanting to attend.
This year, the College Board reported tuition rose almost 8 percent for four-year public institutions.
Al Neuharth, USA Today founder, said families spend $64 billion on tuition to send 13.9 million students to public colleges and universities while the government spends $110 billion annually on military services.
The war costs are paid by some present taxes and debts that will continually be piled on future generations. Parents and loans pay college costs, loans that will end up costing graduating students years after.
So how can the government fix this? Offer free public college and university education.
By implementing a state income tax, Texas could pay the average tuition and fees cost of $5,836 a year for students to go to public colleges or universities.
But with a state income tax, an organization would need to regulate the taxes in each state, one that makes sure no government officials stick their hands in the educational “cookie jar.” Not only would this create jobs for Americans, it would also help students who want to go to college but can’t afford it.
Now the schools themselves would regulate room and board, but parents and students would have one less financial thing to worry about in the economy today.
Connecticut, New York and Michigan are all implementing plans to help students who meet certain requirements attend public college for free. These plans show people are realizing better education in America. If it can be more accessible to everyone, then maybe America could get back to being a reigning superpower.
People want free public college education. It can be done, and the government owes it to American citizens to provide higher education to everyone that wants it.
