redhotswami
Blue Crack Addict
anitram said:
This is the problem I have with Kucinich - he takes all the "easy" positions but so often they are completely divorced from reality. This one is a great example. Even universities in Europe, particularly the top schools in the UK, which were historically essentially free can no longer keep up. Research, particularly biomedical, is very expensive, and grants are scarce and not enough to keep the institutes afloat. The best researchers don't want to work in facilities that do not meet their needs. Whether we like it or not, tuition is a major (sometimes the major) source of revenue for a school. That is not to say that charging $40K per year is justifiable. But free college is unreasonable for many reasons, not the least of which is that it will further dilute an already dilute BA. So that's why I wouldn't vote for Kucinich - he makes me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, but what difference does it make if his ideas are not practicable?
i didn't think grants were all that scarce. most of my current full-time students have grants (the others have assistantships) and most of my friends in the sciences and engineering depts were funded with grants too. and omg have you seen alumni funds? LOADED with goodies.
i don't see free college education for all happening overnight, but i think that all it takes is a reallocation of funds. if this admin found it possible to pour billions of dollars into this war, i'm sure it is possible to invest more in research and education.