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Another Perspective
President Obama's Odd Example
In my study of America's system of higher education, I have never seen it compared to health care. Thus, when reading President Obama's health care speech last night, I was surprised to find him making reference to higher education to make an important point. The problem is that if President Obama's speechwriter knew anything about the history of higher education, he or she would realize that his example actually supports the fears of the President's opponents.
Obama's reference occurred while making a point about his non-profit public health insurance option. He claimed, the option "would also keep pressure on private insurers to keep their policies affordable and treat their customers better, the same way public colleges and universities provide additional choice and competition to students without in any way inhibiting a vibrant system of private colleges and universities."
Historically speaking, the last portion of Obama's closing statement is misleading. Undoubtedly, America enjoys a vibrant system of private colleges and universities. The public system also clearly serves to provide choice and competition. Nonetheless, to claim that the federal government's support of the public option did not "in any way" inhibit the development of private education is both disingenuous and contrary to the facts. Federal funding of the public education option radically altered America's higher education landscape.
In the early 1800s before the federal 1862 Morrill Act, private universities enrolled over 90 percent of the students in education. The federal government's support of public education that the Morrill Act initiated changed that dominance. The change, however, did not occur quickly. Even in the 1940s, there were still more students in private higher education than in public, but by 1952 public university enrollments would overtake private enrollments. Today, public universities enroll seventy-four percent of the student population. Public universities, which once were a minority educational option, now control three-fourths of higher education.
This change clearly had benefits. The expanded public options subsidized by tax dollars made higher education more affordable to a wider range of students. It also, however, reduced private higher education to a minority player in the market. Over the years private higher education has been forced to change significantly in light of this new reality.
President Obama claims that the impact of his legislation "shouldn't be exaggerated." Yet, if one makes long-term predictions based on the example he provided, it is no exaggeration to say that this legislation could prove a historic turning point in the same manner as the Morrill Acts.
Furthermore, if the public health care option follows the example of higher education, one could expect that it will blossom into the primary and dominant option. In addition, while there may be a vibrant private option, if higher education serves as any guide, it will only be for those wealthy enough to afford it or those with particular sorts or intellectual, moral or religious convictions about health care. What will be a major difference is that it is doubtful scholarships and financial aid for the private option will be available. Perhaps, certain businesses will offer elite private plans to attract job applicants.
Thus, if President Obama is going to use public higher education as an example, he should be honest about this long-term possibility. He should also rethink his complaints about Republicans, "making wild claims about a government takeover of health care." While the government may not literally take over health care, claims that the government will eventually become the dominant health insurance provider are certainly understandable if the history of higher education serves as a comparison.
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Appleby| 9.11.09 @ 7:24AM
What? Not a single essay or mention of 9/11/01?
More blithering about King Zero and chit-chat on the everyday and the mundane?
Proof positive that our universities and colleges are doing nothing but twiddling and tweeting and idling while the world turns to ashes around us.
http://www.frugalsites.net/911/sept11.html
Watch that and tell me if it really is that important that Ozymandias is about to fight for truth, justice and the American way by pre-empting prime time and reading another speech....
Big J| 9.11.09 @ 7:56AM
Appleby,
Good point. I assumed there would be at least ONE essay in remembrance of the terrorist attacks on 9/11/01
Take a moment to go here:
www.readmycents.blogspot.com
Also,
http://project2996.wordpress.com/
Liberal Reader| 9.11.09 @ 10:43AM
Oh yes ... Yale's nine billion dollar annuity is striking proof that publicly funded universities have destroyed private education.
JRS| 9.11.09 @ 11:25AM
While I appreciate you're insight Mr. Glanzer, please provide a more detailed analysis. What has happened to actual enrollment numbers at private universities. If they are actually up over this period (as I imagine they are), an alternative conclusion is that the growth in public education didn't hamper private education, but instead allowed for a larger absolute number of students to attend higher education (good to society, economy, etc....). If fact, looking at US News most recent poll (definitely not perfect, but at least one indicator), only 3 national universitities and zero liberal arts schools were public institutions. All of these schools could in fact increase enrollments without too signficant deterioration in quality, so the fact there aren't more in private schools today is at least partially the free market decision of these private schools. And even if private enrollment is down, why is it a bad idea that someone would choose a place like UVA, Michigan, Illinois for a third the price over a fourth rate private school. In this case, the market works even if it's not totally private.
All this said, I'm not saying I'm for public healthcare, etc.... just I think you have a poor argument. If you want to be sucessful in your challenge, please make them airtight. Finally, if a public option that doesn't bankrupt us (this is very hypothetical) is chosen by some over more expensive and poorer private plans, is this necessarily a bad thing.
Dai Alanye| 9.11.09 @ 11:55AM
You might also have pointed out that Federal interference with higher education in the form of grants and loans have assured that college costs have increased far more rapidly than medical costs, while returning far less value.
Pingback| 9.11.09 @ 11:55AM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : President Obama's Odd Example [spect links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
tony| 9.11.09 @ 3:00PM
The writer is correct in that the gov has crowded out private colleges but could have given more data to support his ascersion. In 2000, the average public college received 50% of it's revenue from taxpayers and only 18% from tuition/fees (the remainder from endowments, sales...). Remember too that a good portion of the tuition includes taxpayer funded scholarships/grants... so that actual out of pocket expenses for the average student means taxpayers actually fund closer to 60% of the public school's revenue stream. I know that "Liberal Reader" thinks Yales endowment debunks the writers ascertion, but without the endowment, tuition would probably be higher but I don't really know (although I'll admit that $9 billion is quite large). But the fact remains that over time, the percentage of students enrolling in public vs private has steadily increased. Please, let's try some of the simpler things first (tax credits for lower income families, removing state to state barriers, increasing HSA's (instead of outlawing them like in HR3200), complete tax deductability of any health care premiums, some sort of tort reform (loser pays)...) before completely overhauling the health care system. Let's see what's worked and hasn't worked in other countries first before we screw things up even more.
jacksmith| 9.11.09 @ 7:03PM
Why A Strong Public Option Is Essential - By jacksmith — Working Class
Robert Reich explains the pubic option: http://bit.ly/dDYSJ
It's not just because more than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone.
It's not just because according to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. With 79% of seniors supporting creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!!
It's not just because it will lower cost. Because a strong public option will dramatically lower cost for everyone. And dramatically improved the quality of care everyone receives in America and around the World. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
It's not just because it will save trillions of dollars and prevent the needless deaths of millions more of YOU, caused by a rush to profit by the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX!
It's not just because every expert in every field, including economist, and Nobel laureates all agree that free market based healthcare systems don't work. Never have and never will. The US has the only truly free market based healthcare system in the World. And as you all know now, IT IS A DISASTER!
It's not just because providing or denying medically necessary care for profit motivations is wrong. Because it is WRONG! It's professionally, ethically, and morally REPUGNANT!, Animalistic, VILE and EVIL.
THE REASON THE PUBLIC OPTION IS ESSENTIAL:
The public option is ESSENTIAL because over 200 million of you are trapped in the forest of the wolves. Which is the forest of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! With no way out except through needless inhumane suffering, and DEATH. While the wolves tear at your flesh, and rip you limb from lib. Then feast on your lifeless bodies like a dead carcase for transplant parts.
At the most vulnerable times of your lives (when you were sick and hurting), millions of you have had to fight and loose cruel, but heroic battles. Fighting against the big guns of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! in the forest of the wolves. All because you have no place else to go. You have no other CHOICE!
But the PUBLIC OPTION will give you someplace safe to go. And it will give us someplace safe to take you. The public option will be your refugium (your refuge). Where the wolves cannot get at you when your down, hurting, and vulnerable. Where everyone who needs it can find rest, security, comfort and the care they need. Protected by the BIG GUNS of We The People Of The United States. THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE AND COUNTRY ON EARTH.
This is why it is so critical that we do not lead another 50 million vulnerable, uninsured Americans into the forest of the wolves, without the protections of a Strong Government-run public option. We The People Of The United States MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN to any more of our fellow Americans. If healthcare reform does not contain a strong public option on day one. YOU MUST! KILL IT. Or you will do far more harm than good. And millions more will die needlessly. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
To those who would continue to obstruct good and true healthcare reform for the American people, and who seek to trap millions more vulnerable Americans in the forest of the wolves. We will continue to fight you. We are prepared to wage all out war against you, and will eagerly DESTROY! you. Time...is...UP! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! No Co-op's! No Triggers!
Healthcare reform can be the GREATEST! Accomplishment of our time and century. A time when future generations may say of us, that we were all, AMERICAS GREATEST GENERATIONS.
BUT WE MUST ACT!
I therefore call on all my fellow Americans and the peoples of the World. To join us in this fight so that we may finish becoming the better America that we aspire to be for everyone.
SPREAD THE WORD!
I have been privileged to be witness as many of you fought, and struggled to take your first breath, and your last breath on this earth. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Life is precious.
Whatever the cost. WE! MUST SUCCEED.
God Bless You My Fellow Human Beings
jacksmith — Working Class
Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)
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However remember too that a good portion of the tuition includes taxpayer funded Bailey Button Ugg Boots scholarships/grants... so that actual out of pocket expenses for the average student means taxpayers actually fund closer to 60% of the public school's revenue stream cheap ugg boots . I know that "Liberal Reader" thinks Yales endowment debunks the writers ascertion, but without the endowment, tuition would probably be higher but I don't really know although I'll admit that $9 billion is quite large.
Randall Rupert| 9.11.09 @ 11:17PM
And even if private enrollment is down, why is it a bad idea that someone would choose a place like UVA, Michigan ugg boots uk , Illinois for a third the price over a fourth rate private school. In this case, the market works even if it's not totally private.
All this said, I'm not saying I'm for public healthcare, just I think you have a poor argument cheap ugg boots . If you want to be sucessful in your challenge, please make them airtight.
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The American Spectator : President Obama's Odd Example : PlanetTalk.net - Learn the links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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The American Spectator : President Obama's Odd Example | kozmom news links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Mom of Two Boys| 9.12.09 @ 3:36AM
Today, Harvard University has a larger enrollment than ALL the 1860 US colleges and universities combined. Mr. Glanzer decries the deceased percentage of purely private colleges as proof that the private colleges are suffering, but the current 26% of US colleges that are privately funded had enrollments in 2006 that exceeded US college enrollment in ALL of the 19th century. Harvard's current endowments exceed $25 Billion. According to the US Census Bureau, almost 21 million Americans are currently enrolled in our colleges and universitys; up 17% from just a few years ago. This seems like a good thing for our nation. One of my sons went to a public university, it cost MORE than my other son at a private university.
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DOUGLAS FIELD| 9.12.09 @ 12:42PM
~ U.S. RELIGIOUS LEADERS HAVE BEEN (501C3) SILENCED ~
OUR AMERICAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS SILENCE IS MORE FREIGHTENING THEN DENIAL OF HEALTH ~ CARE FOR ALL OUR POOR AMERICANS ....
~ THE LOUD LAUGH OF SATAN WAS HEARD IN THE PEOPLES HALLS OF U.S. CONGRESS AND AMERICAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS HAVE TURNED THEIR HEADS,CLOSED THEIR EYES AND SHUT THEIR EARS IN FEAR ~
THIS OLD WORLD ORDER OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF OUR POORER AMERICANS NEEDS ENLIGHTENED POLITICAL MINDS AND HEARTS TO VIEW GOD DIFFERENTLY THEN $$$�. NO MATTER WHAT THEIR POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION ???
WHEN WILL OUR WEALTHY ELITE AMERICANS ABATE THEIR ASSAULT ON POORER AMERICANS WITH THEIR MONETARY CONTROL OF OUR IVORY TOWER U.S. CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS OF THE NEW WORLD ORDER ???
THERE ARE NOT MANY MORE DISTRACTIONS LEFT WHICH ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR WEALTHY ELITE AMERICANS TO HIDE BEHIND IN NOT TAKING PROPER CARE OF ALL OUR AMERICANS IN A HUMANE FASHION !!!
RALPH NADER ATTEMPTED TO EDUCATE AMERICAN VOTERS ABOUT U.S. CORPORATE POWER IN AMERICA AND HOW THEY CONTROL OUR CONGRESSIONAL PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR POCKET BOOK (POLITICAL DONATIONS). * WITHOUT THE DOUGH $$$ THESE U.S. CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS OF THE FREE WORLD DO NOT GET RE~ELECTED TO CONGRESS.*TO STAY IN POLITICAL OFFICE IN AMERICA,ONE HAS TO BARTER YOUR VOTES IN CONGRESS AND REPRESENT POWER INTERESTS IN RETURN FOR THE BUCK$.
POORER AMERICANS HAVE NEVER HAD THE $$$ LOBBY TO INFLUENCE THIS CORRUPT POLITICAL CONCEPT (of horse trading political votes for political contributions) TO ACHIEVE PROPER HEALTH ~CARE OR LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR ALL OUR MIDDLE ~ CLASS AND WORKING POOR AMERICANS.
AMERICAN IVORY TOWER U.S.CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS OF THE FREE WORLD HAVE PASSED FEDERAL LEGISLATION IN WASHINGTON DC TO SPEND 50 BILLION AMERICAN TAX $$$ ON THE INTERNATIONAL FIGHT AGAINST AIDS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WHILE THEIR OWN AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE BEING TOLD BY THIS SAME U.S.CONGRESS THAT NATIONAL HEALTH CARE AND PROPER LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR MIDDLE CLASS AND WORKING POOR CITIZENS IS UNAFFORDABLE.
*** WEALTHY ELITE AMERICANS (WHO ARE ONLY 1% OF OUR USA POPULATION) SADLY ALSO CONTROL HOW OUR U.S.CONGRESS SPENDS THEIR BUDGET TRILLION$ AND HAVE OBVIOUSLY FOUND MORE WORTHY INTERNATIONAL CITIZENS THEN OUR OWN DESPERATE AND NEEDY POOR TO ASSIST !!!
~Poorer Americans Nationwide only get 400 million $$$ per year for legal representation allocated them by CONGRESS~
Middle Class and Working Poor Americans are unable to afford proper legal representation in their Civil, Criminal and Family Courts of law all across America causing tremendous hardships nationwide,but these great minds and callous hearts in our American Congress have found others Worldwide more needy then their own citizens who are being falsely incarcerated,wrongfuly executed,losing their homes or apartments,losing child custody or visitation with their children etc...
Not being afforded proper legal representation by our U.S. Congress has created a total breakdown of the American judicial system for our poorer Americans because the our U.S. Courts punish all of us little people if we are not assisted with proprer legal counsel.
*It is a known fact that our average Middle Class and Working Poor Americans without proper legal representation in all of our American Courts of law lose their legal cases to the better financed who are able to afford lawyers.
Lawyers For Poor Americans is now actively in the hunt for International Countries and Leaders Worldwide to help raise 5 Billion Dollar$ for our slighted poorer Americans who have had their own American Congress turn their backs on their desperate needs in not affording them proper legal representation.
Troy Davis and Mumia Abu ~ Jamal are 2 perfect examples of American citizens who never had proper legal representation or defense investigations afforded them by our U.S. Congressional Leaders Of The Free World in their initial criminal trials in (Georgia and Pennsylvania) who might very well have to pay the ultimate price of possibly being completely innocent and falsely executed in the near future.
These two poorer Americans are among tens of thousands of legal cases nationwide that never were afforded proper legal representation or proper defense investigations at their initial trials��**We the public really have no idea if these men are innocent or guilty until they both are given fair legal representation at their new future trials.
Improper murder trials and needless deaths due to the lack of healthcare take place in Third World Countries all the time. *** Why should average Middle~Class and Working Poor Americans in the Wealthiest Country Of The World be treated as if they are living a Third World Life Style ??
This is the first of many www International pleas by Lawyers For Poor Americans for other leaders and countries to help raise the needed monie$ to correct these blatant injustices that have been inflicted on poorer Americans for the last few decades. Lawyers For Poor Americans has many other written articles that can be viewed with any www search engine by our name or our telephone number.
Lawyers For Poor Americans is a www lobby group of volunteers that sing out about the decades old neglect,abuse and injustices being inflicted on our poorer Americans that have become Crimes Against Humanity issues for the International World Court to investigate.
lawyersforpooreramericans@yahoo.com
(424-247-2013)
Jeff| 9.12.09 @ 5:00PM
This is stupid. I would be interested if the number of private colleges decreased but simply the number of public universities increasing is not indicative of anything.
jr| 9.12.09 @ 5:16PM
Jeff, sorry but I must complain. I went to a city college in the 50s and got a good education. It turned me from stupid to a person who can think a little. The old Econ prof always complained about the Fed being able to print money at will. Anything changed? That good city college got turned into a state university overnight as a result of the Federal goobermint money flowing to the state. Now we have jokes like Professor Ward Churchill. I relinquish the remainder of my time.
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The American Spectator : President Obama's Odd Example | Study Abroad Education Links links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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President Obama’s Odd Example « links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Michael L. Hauschild| 9.13.09 @ 9:20AM
It seems that the Ivory Tower affirmative action programs insuring the proper quota of Marxist Johnsons is not "keeping up with the Joneses."
Deniska| 9.14.09 @ 10:31AM
Obama thinking like Abraham Lincoln.
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J| 10.3.09 @ 9:07AM
I feel the true intent of this article is being overshadowed by those who are trying to turn the author’s ability to highlight the reality of the situation to being about the "poor expensive private providers" getting pushed out by the public option. This is exactly the stance Obama and his administrations want you to take in order to support this disaster. This is not to say that something doesn’t need to be done in order to ensure healthcare for more American’s… believe me, I graduated a year ago from college and no longer have health insurance, nor could I afford to acquire it on my own, but this does not mean that taking quick, yet potentially damaging, action is the way to go; quite the opposite is needed. My take on this article and his critique of the comparison to higher education is that, like with higher education today, unless you have a lot of money and/or special skill sets (if history is teaching us anything), your chances of being able to receive said ‘higher education’ (private provider) will become less and less over time. In a grand attempt to even the playing field for everyone the public option, like many government run programs (ahem, WELFARE), end up getting abused and become out of control. All the while, the quality of these programs (and your future public healthcare ‘majority’ option, unless you have the money for private ((preferred))) have the severe potential to diminish greatly. The more we allow public, government funded options (education or otherwise) to so greatly overtake our private options and our FREEDOM to choose that option if we so please, the more exclusive (unattainable) these private options become. In this, we lose our freedom to choose these options because they become so exclusive they are not affordable to everyone. Although, how can we blame them, they are forced to become more and more expensive and selective to stay afloat. (i.e. mom and pop stores… have you ever tried to buy simple household cleaning supplies at a mom and pop grocery?? they’ve had to raise their prices to such extremes that even though you would prefer to shop there, you simply can not afford to pay 2 to 3 times the price as the Wal-Mart’s of the world.) The more they have to charge, the more they have to turn away, the more sought after they become and therefore they are able to provide the best education (care). All you are really doing, in the long term (which I know is not something liberals like to concern themselves with, all of that “cause and effect” nonsense is quite a lot to wrap your head around!) is taking a problem that already exists, the very one we are trying to solve, and magnifying it. This is not the way to go. Period.