President Obama, For Profit Colleges and How Different People See The Same Actions

     That's the basis of the Tale of Two Cities 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times'-in late 18th century France you thought things were pretty darn great if you were part of the nobility-the monarchy, the clergy, or the aristocrats. It was less good if you were someone else. Even though both groups lived in the same city

    Politico is sounding kind of like today's aristocrats as they bemoan the President's new move with the for profit colleges. All I can say is wow: this truly is Obama Unleashed. He is just stepping on the conservatives toes constantly now and I'm loving it. 

    I mean yesterday it was increasing the overtime pay of 50 million American workers and opening up a US embassy in Cuba. 

   http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/us-cuba-embassies-announcement

  We know about all the SCOTUS victories. Maybe Rush Limbaugh will move to Canada now rather than just promise it. 

   Again, as I suggested last night if there is a reason the conservatives might really become enamored of Chris Christie as unlikable as the rest of the country finds him is that his red meat will be a boon for their impotent rage. 

   http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2015/06/chris-christie-giving-american-people.html

   Anyway, when discussing views framing is always key. So Politico's piece about Obama's new moves with the colleges shows their cards in the title: Barack Obama Pushes For-Profit Colleges to the Brink. 

  Note the way they use his full name here-they sound like your mother when she's mad at you. What the title doesn't' suggest is that reform is absolutely needed. 

  "On Wednesday, the Obama administration will begin choking off the financial lifeline of for-profit colleges whose graduates can’t find well-paying jobs — and the move is likely to accelerate a wave of shutdowns for an industry taking assaults from all sides."

   Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/barack-obama-pushes-for-profit-colleges-to-the-brink-119613.html#ixzz3ee01KfoT

   See? It's all about framing effects. Right away, the Politico writer, Allie Green, sets up for profit colleges as a victim. How sad that they are 'taking assaults on all sides.'

   I don't doubt it. But you you know who else is taking assaults on all sides and has been for 35 years? Students who have seen the not so pleasant correlation of soaring tuition and dwindling job prospects after college. 

   So is Ms. Green and Politico not concerned about them? Just what value added have the profit colleges give our economy, our workforce, our society, to our young people? How many students get nothing out of their college experience but as much as $100,000 or more in college debt and a job at 7 Eleven?

   Even if these for-profits are in hot water now they've had a great run over 35 years. I mean the college lenders were crying in the late 70s and then the government gave them a nice big fat government guarantee-which no other lenders enjoy. The reason given was this is the only way they can survive. 

  Un-examined is why if this is the case they deserve to survive? Again, the only way we can agree that this government largess is justified is if it can be showed that society has an interest in seeing a healthy private college and lender industry. The very considerable costs to society would have to be less than the benefits. I haven't seen this cost-benefit analysis have you?