Sheesh, these questions: Wouldn't free public higher education be throwing money away when not everyone graduates? (Uhh, a lot of people don't complete college for financial reasons, you asshole.) Anyway, Sanders says no, it's an investment. It's not just about the debt people shouldn't have upon graduating, it's that kids in middle school who don't have a lot of money should know that if they work hard they will be able to go to college regardless of their family income. It will give hope to millions of young people. Follow-up question: But state budget deficits! Sanders: The states will just have to deal. Bottom line here is, in the year 2015 we should look at a college degree the way we looked at a high school degree 50 or 60 years ago, as a ticket into the middle class.
O'Malley jumps in to agree with "much of what Sen. Sanders says," calling for affordable, debt-free college and to point out that he avoided tuition increases in Maryland, but calls for "debt-free" college, not free college. Lower interest rates, raise Pell Grants, etc., but don't make it free. Clinton then jumps in to call for free community college and debt-free public college and university, Pell Grants to defray living expenses, but disagrees with free college for everybody because she doesn't think taxpayers should be paying to send Donald Trump's kids to college.