Well said as usual

More kids need to learn a trade. I have friends that are carpenters and heavy equipment operators that make more money than I do with a college education.

Actually, this is not a good thing if you got a decent degree. If it does not pay to learn a trade in college, nobody will go.

Bowhunter, no it doesn't sound selfish. I paid cash for my little bit of college I did. I see it as giving them responsibility and motivation. I've told my kids similar stuff and if they don't want to go to college they don't have to. My wife gets heated when I say that. But it's true, I know many people who are "successful" and didn't get a degree. Before mt health went downhill I was doing good in my field

Todays thinking~

My parents and grandparents contributed some to my college education, I contributed the rest through loans. This is something I struggle with for my kids, I am able to pay off my loans, to the tune of $500 a month, I have an employable degree, engineering, and work in a good field, automotive but I do know that out of college I struggled with the loan payments and I would have been able to contribute significantly more to saving for a house and my retirement if I didn't have loans. On one side, I would like my children to have an easier time of it than I did, on the flip side I dont want them to grow up spoiled or with their hands out and have no sense of what it means to earn something. Thankfully I have a while before I have to make a decision.

The more we give away the less it will be appreciated, then if it was earned by those people! I can being a student becoming a life long career the abuse would be endless similar to the welfare culture.

I thought they already had a program for "free" tuition , all you have to do is be of decent health , have a skill , and sign your life over to uncle Sam for 6 years.

8 years, and you dont need a skill unless you count breathing and can hold a rifle. lol

I already told my kids when it comes time for college they better get scholarships or join the military, im not paying for it. I know plenty of people who went to college and are paying off loans still and they all say they wish they would have just learned a trade, they would be ahead financially.

The fall of an empire......may be upon us.

That broad is as stupid and whiny as the young adults that are asking us to pay for the loans they took out.
There should be something done that allows kids to attend two and four year schools using loans with lower interest rates, but the money should always have to be paid back.

My oldest son just received his masters on Mother's Day. His debt to attend the private school he choose is a little more than 100K. That's after he used his savings, scholarship monies, and the 529 plan money we put away for him since birth. He was hired as a physician's assistant @ nearly 92K plus he'll get some of his loans paid for during the first few years of employment.
Some other students paid the same for an education degree that they'll be lucky to earn 40K as a new hire.

Most bright kids with good work ethics will do at least as well(more often better) if he chooses the right major and gets a college degree or tech certification than going right to work in whatever field is hot when he graduates from high school.

It's not the ones with the work ethic we are talking about now is it, but thanks for the condescending beatdown! LOL

What? You listened to that her whining rant and then say that someone is is condescending?
Her's is just one more person's attempt to divide Americans by lumping those who want their loans paid by others in with all college grads.

The military has a free college plan? Didn't have one of those when I signed up.

I worked my way through college; construction,trapping ,sold firewood,work on the farm and anything else to make money. I also received scholarships( A student) and never went to Florida or Europe for winter/spring break because I was working. The profs knew the students who payed their own way and the kids who had a free ride from their parents. There are kids who never had a job and could not get interviews from companies because they had zero work experience.

free might be a little generous. ROTC , my Aunt went to Nursing school as ROTC where she earned her Bachelor of nursing when she finished her time with the army that I though was 6 years but may have been 8.

part of your life and a lot of hard work.

I went to tech school for electronics and worked part time earning an Associate degree then did night school while I worked full time and earned a Bachelors degree..

All education should be paid for. Including K-12.

Went to Uncle Sam’s “college” and learned a trade so to speak. Not rich by any means, but when I retire I’ll be content with everything paid for. The only thing I told my kids I would get them is their first vehicle and whatever type they wanted within reason...part of the reason I’m still driving a 19 year old truck! My sons are at the age of realizing finding something you like doing for the next 30+ years and can live comfortably is their future, lol. My wife brought up something about loading trucks (semi’s) and one of the crumb snatchers scoffed at having to do work like that in this heat. She shut them down real quick when she told them I’d get off my “normal” job and go load trucks for a buddy of mine for extra $$$. Thankfully both my boys don’t mind hard work if that’s what it takes to put food on the table and live a decent happy life. To this day I get off work and come home to go to my “second job”. That’s if you count trapping as a second job? It’s hot already but there’s critters people want gone and are willing to pay to have it happen. Sorta doesn’t seem so bad when your doing something you enjoy.

I told my boys at 21 they’re on their own. They have an Uncle that would be more than happy to take them in or find a spot under the nearest overpass and camp out for a while. An overpass would at least keep them dry.

Pretty sure K-12 is free, unless you count the taxes you pay every year.

**** them.