How would you fix the economy and budget issues?

[Schneed10]

- If not completely privatize social security, at least authorize the fund to broaden its investments to include a portion of equities and corporate bonds.

- Increase the retirement age significantly, to 72 - 75 or so. Apply this to both social security and Medicare.

- Instead of funding unemployment for up to 99 weeks, give people the option of either staying on unemployment either for 6 months and end it, or 1 year with subsidies for retraining or education (but you have to make the grade or you're out). So you either head back to school and sharpen up, or you sink/swim after 6 months.

- Scale back on air defense spending. Our strategic advantage via air superiority can still be maintained even if we go a little less star wars.

- Institute laws aimed at restricting the growth in cost of higher education. There's no reason colleges need to build giant mock stock trading floors in these state of the art business schools and then turn around and charge $48,000 a year. In the end, kids these days are having to pay for unnecessary bells and whistles. Make college education more affordable by restricting their ability to spend and build.

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

- If not completely privatize social security, at least authorize the fund to broaden its investments to include a portion of equities and corporate bonds.

Yes and No. You couldn't put it into anything of high risk that could end up collapsing like many people's 401ks did these past few years.

Originally Posted by Schneed10

- Institute laws aimed at restricting the growth in cost of higher education. There's no reason colleges need to build giant mock stock trading floors in these state of the art business schools and then turn around and charge $48,000 a year. In the end, kids these days are having to pay for unnecessary bells and whistles. Make college education more affordable by restricting their ability to spend and build.

Not sure where you get this from. I think you've seen a couple of instances and have decided all universities are doing this. I work for a division I university and I can assure you that there isn't anything like this that you are speaking of. (or any other unnecessary bells and whistles)

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

Yes and No. You couldn't put it into anything of high risk that could end up collapsing like many people's 401ks did these past few years.

Obv. You'd mix in the appropriate proportion of stocks, bonds, commercial paper and other short term investments. No unnecessary risks, but no unnecessary conservatism either.

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

Not sure where you get this from. I think you've seen a couple of instances and have decided all universities are doing this. I work for a division I university and I can assure you that there isn't anything like this that you are speaking of. (or any other unnecessary bells and whistles)

Both universities I attended (one undergraduate the other graduate) built these amazing business school buildings in the last five years. Mock stock trading floors, a real stock ticker (same size you see on the floor of NYSE). It's a trend amongst business schools fostered by a keeping up with the Jones's mentality. Wharton was one of the first to have it, so of course the others felt the need to follow suit.

My graduate school (and employer) also just built this insanely beautiful new building for the medical school. Absolutely gorgeous. I just question the need for it.

You clearly don't think investments in plant & equipment are responsible for the growth in college costs. I ask you then, if that's not the cause, what is?