Who WOULD be against education?

Again, I hope it's fine to repost the beginnings of Facebook conversations here. You all put it out on the internet in the first place, but if you ever want, I can always take it down.


This post is dedicated, obviously, to Patrisha Dean. I like the passion in your argument.


Patrisha Dean 

Where are all the jobs Bush created? The best thing that ever happened was the GI Bill after WWII. It is EDUCATION that propelled
the middle class as well as unions. Like the trickle down theory? The
Bush tax cuts LOST jobs. If you wish to aid your fellow vets, you must fight vigorously for the cuts planned especially in health services. I do
not think commercial property tax cuts would help a single vet, but
EDUCATION would since it is something no one can take from anyone.
Back in the '60s (JFK) I helped elect the youngest representative ever
in WI (21 yrs old at time of oath) and he is still serving proudly.

Patrisha Dean 

I do not think our US or IA Constitution calls for us to support business
in any way, but calls for regulation of the same to PROTECT us. Where
is it said we must support business? In the old days, we bartered.


We lead all countries in innovation, production and soon to occur, exploitation unless we stop the greed of those who produce nothing.
Wall Street is a big casino for the rich as well as big banks. They play
with us along with hedge fund managers. The best investment is in yourself and education. Maybe we should go to the Cayman Islands.

Education is good. There, I said it. I'm in favor of it. I have used the GI Bill to go to school. I especially admire the efforts of Senator Jim Webb of Virginia in updating the GI Bill for the post 9/11 generation. In fact, if there is one person I would like to draft to be President after Obama, it would be Jim Webb.

Why can't we support business and support education? And do you really prefer a barter economy?

Education is not the sole reason why we lead the world in innovation. We live in a free market economy where there is incentive to innovate.

I don't agree with the idea that we're all victims of business. Business (and Wall Street) is neither evil nor benevolent. It's motives are to maximize profit. Businesses use us to sell things to and as employees to make things. We use businesses for employment and to consume the products they make for us.

The government has a delicate role to play: regulate business but don't stifle it.

We get into trouble when government goes to far to either side. If all liberals ran the world, business would be choked off and everyone's quality of life would suffer. If conservatives ran the world, there would be no environment left to provide materials and no middle class to buy the products they make.

I'm running in the center. Create conditions in which businesses can grow, provide the best education system we can, and repeat. 

Education is a great investment. But ask a recent Harvard art history graduate how great an investment that was. Four years of room and board, for the most basic of degrees at Harvard: $240,000 (inflation excluded of course).

Let's assume that that recent Harvard grad could immediately get a job making $200,000, would work for 50 long, wonderful years, and would never, ever pay a cent in taxes. Total income: $10 million.

The stock market historically returns 10%. If you invested $240,000, left it alone for 50 years to the those wicked, evil Robber Barons of Wall Street, and made no additional contributions....$28,173,804.69.


Luckily, we don't have to make an either/ or choice. We can and must support business and education. Cutting commercial property taxes makes it easier for business owners to know that their costs for the entire fiscal year will be less than what they are currently. With that certainty, they can hire a worker to help increase their output. They'll know they can afford to, because they know ahead of time what their tax burden will be.


It isn't to be nice to corporations, it's to do everything we can to get people back to work.