Name:   copperline - Subject:   Greatest Political Victory in History Date:   6/17/2016 4:30:24 PM

Hmm…   I certainly agree that many young folks go to college without enough thought about what degree they want… a huge waste of time, money and effort in my opinion.   One thing about higher education costs is that it will make kids and parents think about the exact purpose of attending college, and make the vague “I don’t know what degree I want yet but I am getting a good college experience” a thing of the past.

Wouldn’t you think those scholarships that are granted by colleges to students are likely to ultimately be funded by federal dollars already?.....  directly (as education department scholarship funds) or indirectly (by tax dollars offsetting operational costs and freeing up Universities to put more money into scholarship funding).   Universities are heavily dependent on outside funding, tuitions costs have been rising in part due to the reduction of overall tax dollars spent on education…shifting the burden to tuition payers.   It could be that up to 60% of your niece’s education is already being covered by tax dollars already…but in the form of grants, not loans. 

I just reviewed the Heritage Foundations “Top Ten Obama Apologies” and a review of the same statements by Politifact.   It doesn’t appear to me that Obama was apologizing for our existence, but he was reviewing our policy mis-steps from the past, diplomatically trying to mend fences and move on.   I think it is imperative that we admit mistaken policies or the unintended consequences of what we do internationally…..   we can’t simply cling to a false narrative that we have never been wrong, or that our actions are always beyond reproach. 

IMO, many other countries dislike us because we are arrogant and too frequently unconcerned with the consequences of what we do when it affects people on the ground.   I think it is right, prudent and ultimately a good idea to face mistakes & address unintended consequences if we propose to be a world leader.   Dictators don't have to admit when they are wrong, democratically elected national leaders should.