re: Would you support paying back student loans w pre tax dollars?

Yes, so they can train for those jobs that are never coming back.

What we need is for education to focus highly on STEM branches so that we can prepare tomorrows workforce for a reality in which most things are manufactured by robots. We definitely dont need to be subsidizing underwater basket weaving or philosophy majors.

Im also not saying we won't need technical jobs like electricians, plumbers and whatnot, but we're talking about millions of jobs that built the middle class of this country gone and never coming back. We need a paradigm shift in education with more people going to college for hard sciences and engineering here. Not less.

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frick no. College enrollment is too high as it is

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We need a paradigm shift in education with more people going to college for hard sciences and engineering here. Not less.

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How very obtuse of me.

Anyway, to the OP. I dont have an issue with it, but I do think we need to shift focus.

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frick no. College enrollment is too high as it is. We need to encourage some folks to skip college and get their arse straight into a skilled trade as opposed to borrow money to screw around and flunk out of school.

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There might be a point to this. I have lived in several states and generally have a really tough time acquiring skilled labor for projects that range from concrete, painting, plumbing, roofing, electrical, to just general building stuff.

There might be some contractors here that can speak to this with more authority. My personal experience, as well as family members, seems consistent -- there just isn't enough good, sober skilled labor to help get shite done.