Clinton & Education

Chelsea Clinton was apparently in St. Louis yesterday stumping for Mom. She took questions at SLU and apparently got one from someone about how Clinton would help students. (Note the inherent idea that we should elect politicians so they should give us something; i.e. elect the one who gives you the most.) Her response was… well she said that her Mom’s proposal was to allow people in public sector jobs to count time on the job as loan repayment. She specifically cited teachers and nurses and….

BUZZ TILT

Say what?

Okay, aside from any difficulty administering this or persuading lenders to lend money that people can repay them by going to work, how the hell does she define “public sector” jobs here. Teachers, I don’t have so much problem with, but nurses? All nurses? Private nurses? What about doctors? I know they are seen as helping people in spite of having some of the most money grubbing individuals in their camp. (Don’t believe me? Look at all the non-malpractice lawsuits involving doctors, groups of doctor investors, tax evasion, marriage dissolutions, etc.) Anyway, doctors, pulling down six figures, do they get to count time in the office as loan repayment? What about the guy who paves the street? Does it matter if he works for the City or a contractor? What about the library clerks? What about lawyers? Or do we call Prosecutors/State’s Attorneys/District Attorneys and Public Defenders all public sector, but not the guy who does grandma’s will for her? What about the clerk in Wal-Mart who stocks the shelves? Think she’s not in the public sector then contemplate what would happen to the public if all the stocking clerks stopped working.

I hope the students as SLU are smart enough to see this mental placebo for what it is.