tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post7412438132558623161..comments2024-02-13T02:39:22.756-05:00Comments on EconomicPolicyJournal.com: The SubPrime-Like Government Push to Get Everyone a College Degree...Robert Wenzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296920597416905488noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-20968858348230494632010-07-09T00:51:43.575-04:002010-07-09T00:51:43.575-04:00Just how long do you think the national debt is go...Just how long do you think the national debt is going to keep growing, Chicken Little?<br />This is the problem with crony capitalism masquerading as a free market: the state decides standards of education, while the corporate execs get rich on corporate welfare-- and in turn use these subsidies to lobby for more. <br />Has anyone noticed that that Consttution only permits Congress to lay and IMR2D2https://www.blogger.com/profile/09434896673441895171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-89957130005066202352010-07-08T18:08:15.927-04:002010-07-08T18:08:15.927-04:00The sky is falling!
The sky is falling!The sky is falling!<br />The sky is falling!B Realnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-20568017308298061612010-07-08T17:49:09.989-04:002010-07-08T17:49:09.989-04:00Some more comments also with respect to the NYT ar...Some more comments also with respect to the NYT article:<br /><br />The NYT makes the point that these current millenial grads are better educated than previous generations.<br />This article points out that the level has declined instead, and it is correct, not the NYT.<br /><br />NYT also shows the disdain, someone like Scott has for manufacturing jobs, and not just because the lack an obvious Chrishttp://web.denoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-44840279228805770802010-07-08T17:45:03.312-04:002010-07-08T17:45:03.312-04:00at ~$40K per year, Harvard is a horrible value bec...<i>at ~$40K per year, Harvard is a horrible value because you could get 6 degrees from Ohio State for the same price and be infinitely more marketable. Sales further teaches you that even at that Ohio State is a ripoff because you can watch videos of every course offered at MIT online for FREE. </i><br /><br />What a ridiculous oversimplification. My single undergrad engineering degree from MIT Mike in Cambridgehttp://ocw.mit.edu/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-86199297405441150752010-07-08T16:13:16.137-04:002010-07-08T16:13:16.137-04:00Paul is dead on. If you want to go to college to ...Paul is dead on. If you want to go to college to just generally open your mind to new ideas, then by all means do so. But if you are going just to get a degree that will assure you a job, then you are losing right out of the starting blocks. The reason is because, as Paul explains, the current system will implode in your lifetime. So why go into debt today to participate.<br /><br /> All theAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-24792434810224708092010-07-08T15:12:51.655-04:002010-07-08T15:12:51.655-04:00I have no degree and I started in sales at 21. I ...I have no degree and I started in sales at 21. I am now 27 and I am making over $90K/yr. This has taken a lot of hard work... I am especially glad that I didn't waste my time on a degree when I see my friends still in school and/or unemployed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-13638310901156280512010-07-08T14:41:35.943-04:002010-07-08T14:41:35.943-04:00If you really want to get depressed about college ...If you really want to get depressed about college degrees vs. jobs, google our congressmen and pundits to see what they studied and where. For example, Tom Friedman of the NYT has a degree in Mediterranean Studies. What the hell is that. Barbara Boxer a history degree. Carol Browner in charge of global warming for Obama has an English degree. None have learned enough to be competent at what Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-22857449825979972782010-07-08T12:57:24.340-04:002010-07-08T12:57:24.340-04:00People do not get what colleges and universities a...People do not get what colleges and universities are. <br /><br />College and universities confer two kinds of degrees at four levels: associate, bachelors, masters and doctorate.<br /><br />The majority of degrees offered are theory degrees, which mean that what gets learned does not translate directly to work, except in academia itself.<br /><br />The minority of degrees offered are technology Smack MacDougalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-45654236020100498152010-07-08T12:14:36.812-04:002010-07-08T12:14:36.812-04:00I think people largely misunderstand the evolution...I think people largely misunderstand the evolution of education. The problems began with the baby boomers that were a glutton on the economy by saturating it with degree'd types during prosperous times. <br /><br />The notion of a quality traditional education was about being educated and nothing more. The transition continued with the gen x'ers who were expected to go to college in orderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-61751034108274479802010-07-08T12:08:09.918-04:002010-07-08T12:08:09.918-04:00Sales is unique in that it is business in its true...Sales is unique in that it is business in its truest form. It is pure capitalism: a mutual exchange of goods, services or money where both parties perceive that they are getting something of value. And for that reason, anyone seeking to participate in our economic society (which is pretty much everyone) is well served by understanding the fundamentals of sales. All of us know someone who Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-27462213295442183822010-07-08T10:47:12.491-04:002010-07-08T10:47:12.491-04:00I sold books door to door for a summer in college,...I sold books door to door for a summer in college, which landed me a co-op job for a manufacturing company, which in turn landed me another job in a rotational program to advance to management. <br /><br />It all started with sales. No one cared that I could wait tables, idiots do that. But to last an entire summer, working 80 hours a week knocking on strangers doors, not just anyone can Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-42248586088752827152010-07-08T10:30:51.949-04:002010-07-08T10:30:51.949-04:00My best friend has a BA in Psychology and got her ...My best friend has a BA in Psychology and got her first job out of college in Sales. That lasted 2 years, then the company ended her position and closed the regional office (where she was the sole salesperson). She went to work for a client who was involved with several businesses, also as a sales person. That job lasted 2 years, and now she has been hired as a program coordinator for a local Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-65312080345172298952010-07-08T10:30:50.361-04:002010-07-08T10:30:50.361-04:00I agree that sales skills are valuable no matter w...I agree that sales skills are valuable no matter what course your career takes but the value of a degree depends on the course of study. Spending four years to get a degree in history or English or philosophy is a waste of time and money. Just get a library card and go read. A degree in a hard science or technical field like engineering, computer science, medicine, will pay-off. Of course these Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-61498895064098330352010-07-08T10:30:47.959-04:002010-07-08T10:30:47.959-04:00Degrees, like anything else, lose value when there...Degrees, like anything else, lose value when there is oversupply. I am no economist, but too many houses, too much money, too many degrees, it doesn't matter. Supply and demand, baby.<br /><br />Disclaimer: I have a finance undergrad and I'm getting my MBA for 10K (from an actual SCHOOL!), all paid in full by the US Taxpayer. Aside from the opportunity cost of not working my ROI is prettyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-87183119573176004592010-07-08T10:25:25.395-04:002010-07-08T10:25:25.395-04:00OG Mandino, "two people meet, one gets sold&q...OG Mandino, "two people meet, one gets sold" is incorrect.<br /><br />"Two people meet, both get sold!"<br /><br />All value is subjective.<br /><br />With all sales transactions, both parties are "richer", have increased their wealth.<br /><br />The one who gives up his money is richer because he values the product MORE than his money.<br /><br />The one who gives Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-949554337210546522010-07-08T08:54:22.781-04:002010-07-08T08:54:22.781-04:00OG Mandino, "two people meet, one gets sold&q...OG Mandino, "two people meet, one gets sold" is a recipe for short term gain long term famine. Two people meet both get sold is the goal for today and tomorrow!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-13138562291816955162010-07-08T08:21:58.005-04:002010-07-08T08:21:58.005-04:00the plain truth is that even if a college grad doe...the plain truth is that even if a college grad does earn more than a non-grad, the additional income will be used to pay off the college loans over many years. net net, the college grad is no better off and will probably be worse off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-72082049464988978962010-07-08T05:05:52.808-04:002010-07-08T05:05:52.808-04:00From the horse's mouth...
I attended a top 50...From the horse's mouth...<br /><br />I attended a top 50 business school within the past 5 years. Between my dad and grandfather, they chucked out $80,000 to cover what my scholarship would not, so I could attend this Ivy League business school.<br /><br />To this day, I 100% REGRET having my parents overpay for my business degree. I could have EASILY gotten the same level of education -- Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-64411859722309840782010-07-08T02:49:14.154-04:002010-07-08T02:49:14.154-04:00I agree that this is parent-driven in part. Keepi...I agree that this is parent-driven in part. Keeping up with the Jonses was never more expensive than it is now, but were it not for the easy-credit bubble we've been in, most middle-class parents would not be able to finance their kid's schooling the way they do now, and it would also be much more difficult, if not near impossible for kids to secure loans to finance school on their own.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-17433361027664487722010-07-08T02:37:41.376-04:002010-07-08T02:37:41.376-04:00In high school I begged my parents to let me go to...In high school I begged my parents to let me go to the vocational high school to learn how to fix cars. No son of theirs would do work like that. So I went to a "top" school and have wallowed in less than mediocre jobs ever since--even after a Master's degree. (Some one argue that being an airport director was not a "less than mediocre job" but considering how much I Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-4141413088907828892010-07-08T02:08:07.555-04:002010-07-08T02:08:07.555-04:00I would argue that a humanities or social science ...I would argue that a humanities or social science (except economics of course) degree from a state college is actually a hindrance in today's market. My wife has been looking for a job for about a year and recently a recruiter told her to remove her education from her resume since it could only hurt. And she has been working for 15 years.<br /><br />Another anecdote: I recently was recruited Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916592783838696390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-89551142921177958372010-07-08T01:51:51.807-04:002010-07-08T01:51:51.807-04:00Learning to sell is a life skill. You need it to c...Learning to sell is a life skill. You need it to convince others to come around to your point of view in work, politics, religion, parenting, and many other important aspects of life.<br /><br />Selling is not telling. It is understanding how humans function.Roddy6667https://www.blogger.com/profile/04965519083649400716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-11908028811609840092010-07-08T01:48:00.394-04:002010-07-08T01:48:00.394-04:00I think this is more of a parent-driven bubble. th...I think this is more of a parent-driven bubble. these are the kids who listened to Mozart in the womb. They did extracurricular activities not because they were interested but to buff their college applications. There was huge pressure to be the smartest and get into the best schools. the schools responded with higher prices for premium colleges and creation of diploma mills for the rest.JB McMunnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15468282698533043544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-9275870368824719082010-07-08T01:45:46.748-04:002010-07-08T01:45:46.748-04:00Selling is the most misunderstood occupation in th...Selling is the most misunderstood occupation in the world. The average product, by the time it gets to market, is "sold" by salesmen 3-6 times.<br /><br />A salesman does 3 things--shows the features of the product/idea; then the benefits; and then asks for the sale. Salesmen are not born, but made, through learning. Those who dismiss sales do not realize that one is, in every Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758330678390419129.post-64616708677008592852010-07-08T01:35:50.599-04:002010-07-08T01:35:50.599-04:00You can say that again, brother. Only the fortuna...You can say that again, brother. Only the fortunate few, I guess.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com