Quote:So how do we verify that someone is actually spending their time becoming educated if they're just doing a lot of reading?

 

Life is an ongoing exercise in education, my simple point was that it's in the national interest to have the most educated populace possible, and the costs of learning get in the way of that currently.

 

Obviously for people that want to raise families and live like upper middle class or wealthier people they won't be able to spend their whole life as a student, but for someone who for some reason can't find their passion (or who simply has a passion for learning) if they want to go from doctorate to doctorate I don't see a problem with that being free and the marginal costs of supporting a student lifestyle being paid for by the society that benefits from a more learned populace.

 

I also think tradeschools for things like welding and pipefitting should be subsidized, too.

 

Education is in the nation's best interest, but it's not the nation's responsibility.  There are a lot of things that would be in the nation's best interest, like if everyone had their meals portion controlled and diets dictated. (16 ounce coke anybody?)

 

You don't verify if someone is self-educating.  It's not the government's business if you educate yourself or not with your own time.  If you can't afford college, there are many options to educate yourself and make yourself useful.  One big reason college is so expensive is because of government subsidies.  College has become big business and the more subsidies they soak up, the more they can raise tuition, and in return make more money.

---