I think that’s the issue from the right wingers just framed differently. It’s not that someone would choose to study Tuba, its the financial recklessness of spending $280k on something with little payback. As in if you are that passionate enough, maybe find a way to be a prodigy without impoverishing yourself. You run into a lot of kids at these lower tier liberal arts schools spending big $$$ on degrees with no payback in what are borderline predatory circumstances. I mean, if an 18 year old told me they were passionate about autos and that’s why they were buying a new $280k Ferrari on loans I’d call that bad decision making and predatory lending, this is how I feel about some passion pursuits in college. That said, if its at an elite Berklee or Yale type music school, then I feel there’s a reasonable argument that their skill is aligned with their passion and they’ll be fine.
Anyhow, I do agree with your sentiment on the whole. Life is full of the bland & bitter about it types who haven’t had an independent thought in their life and can’t handle someone not being solely fulfilled by money. The amusing part is how most of them still manage to be simultaneously not wealthy and the few that are are so insecure about it they make sure everyone who will listen knows about it.
I’d never really thought of that way but you’re right, it’s the same issue but framed differently.
I’m no anti capitalist but the older I get the more it becomes obvious how it does not work in the favour of society for certain aspects like education, arts and healthcare.
The only Tuba programs I know of are Yale and Berklee, if it was one of those two, then 100% I’d be on board. If not, then it would depend. That said, my unwillingness to pay (with my money) does not mean I’m against it or that it’s necessarily stupid.
I’d like to see a more progressive policy towards supporting post secondary education (STEM programs) and the trades. Why? Not enough students are enrolling in these programs, too many students graduating out of college / university with degrees and then taking jobs that do not require a higher level degree, or are under employed.
I would support the government paying for some of the tuition costs of students enrolled in those (STEM, trades) programs, paid in advance, subject to meeting a minimum satisfactory passing grade. So if you pass each course and get the passing grade, no tuition bill. You don’t pass, or don’t meet the minimum grade, you have to pay the tuition back.
i think the idea is if you are a rich then dont obsess about money cuz u have a lot.
but if you are a poor, you do not have the luxury so dont be a dumb.
but i do find it hilarious when people who are already rich are working themselves to death to make more money when money no longer brings them happiness.
Well, there is that old saying: Put your money where your mouth is. And, its a personal choice as well I suppose. If my kid came to me and said that they want to go to Yale and study Tuba, I’d still be against it and wouldn’t pay for the tuition etc.
Well obviously, I said Yale makes sense. I don’t think not subsidizing somebody else’s dream is the same is calling it stupid. Nobody is entitled to anything. You do realize that its a small program and a lot of those people (from top programs) go on to play in major symphonies, teach in demanding organizations, etc? Also, music majors at good programs are at least as demanding as engineering, I’ve seen both pretty closely.
There’s a lot of attacks on the progressive college plans than need to be addressed:
Nobody is going to be spending 280k at a public school, the actual number would be like 1/3 of that.
Warren’s plan calls for eliminating up to 50k, not 280k for outstanding student loan debt.
Tuba players are the minority of this plan – the vast majority of the beneficiaries would be kids whose parents aren’t shelling out massive amounts of money for college.
This increases the productive of people in aggregate. There’s always going to be outliers and people who want to party for four years – but this is targeted at 18 year olds, who have their whole lives to pay it back.
People are going to get social services no matter what – either you can give them welfare in 10 years when they have a family and no education, or you can spend less money now to get them a college degree.
That being said: I agree with BS on this one – if someone is elite at the tuba and is willing to live near poverty to pursue their passion, who cares? Freedom to choose, not everyone wants to go into finance.
You guys listened to the thing or not? 1) Everyone thinks the guy will make no money. 2) Grandparents think it’s ok because they will die eventually, in like 30 years, and leave the kid money to pay his debt.
No, you don’t have to do everything for money, but you also should balance interest with practicality. Furthermore, your life priorities change, and mom is trying to help the son avoid a decision he will regret later.
If the kid was going to Yale, I’m pretty sure the mom would say he’s going to Yale.
I don’t see many people here who are working in tuba, or basket weaving or something.
Honestly, if you are good enough to major in an instrument like that (no bagpipe please), I would be fine with it. It is at least as useful as a business degree, in my opinion. Now if they wanted to major in comedyor Canadian studies I may have some questions.
gender studies must have a future. the amount of known genders has increased exponentially. did not think possible.
anyways. but real talk. there are a lot of people out there with student loan debt and useless majors. i think this is the perfect lesson and should serve as an example. to help them would encourage future useless majors.
I think if they pick a useless major, they should agree to never bring up wealth disparity or say shit about the rich. They made their bed, they should lay in it. If you want to blow in a tuba all day, then do it but don’t try to steal my legitimately earned wealth.
I did not, although I was upfront about that in the first post.
I don’t know too many hacksaw schools with Tuba specializations, but its always possible it is lower tier. In which case, I did specify that it would then be more questionable. If the person is elite and going to study to be truly elite, then my view is they will be fine and that should be encouraged. If they are not elite and just wasting time/money on a career with no income, then yes, bad decision.
Arguably one of your top 10
That’s fair, although I think this argument spilled over into political territory that isn’t related to the original intent.
