Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) appeared on G. Gordon Liddy's radio show the other day, and shared her thoughts on Americans burdened with student-loan debt.
For those who can't watch or listen to clips online, here's the part of Foxx's comments that stood out:
"I went through school, I worked my way through, it took me seven years, I never borrowed a dime of money.... I have very little tolerance for people who tell me that they graduate with $200,000 of debt or even $80,000 of debt because there's no reason for that. We live in an opportunity society and people are forgetting that."
There are a few relevant angles to comments like Foxx's. For one thing, House Republicans made Foxx the chair of the House panel on higher education, which make her comments that much more disconcerting. For another, she went to a state school four decades ago, when tuition was far more affordable, and students and their families didn't need to take out exorbitant loans.
There's also the matter of Foxx's party's presumptive presidential nominee, who put himself through school thanks to money from family stock sales, and who now wants to scrap college aid for millions of American students, on purpose, for ideological reasons.
But what also stood out for me is Foxx's choice of words: she lacks "tolerance" for families burdened by massive debts, because they had the nerve to want more education.
It's not just that conservative Republicans are indifferent to those who are struggling; the larger truth appears to be that these GOP policymakers seem to have disdain for these Americans, even during difficult economic times.
This goes well beyond education aid.
We also learned this week, for example, that House Republicans are scrambling to pay for additional Pentagon spending that the Pentagon says it doesn't want. How does the GOP intend to finance the additional spending? By cutting food stamps.
From food stamps to child tax credits and Social Service block grants, House Republicans began rolling out a new wave of domestic budget cuts Monday but less for debt reduction -- and more to sustain future Pentagon spending without relying on new taxes. [...]
At one level, the pro-Pentagon, anti-tax stance fits traditional Republican doctrine. And the whole goal is to come up with enough savings to forestall automatic spending cuts that will fall most heavily on the Defense Department in January.
But what's also driving the latest cuts is a newer narrative, voiced by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), that the social safety net is at risk of becoming a "hammock."
Got that? Republicans want to spend money on defense that the Defense Department doesn't want, and it wants to pay for the spending by slashing aid to struggling families -- because they have it way too easy right now.
Say hello to The Sympathy Gap.
It's also why Republican policymakers have opposed extended unemployment aid -- the problem in 2012, the GOP argues, is that life has just become too comfortable for those Americans who just barely getting by. Congress should make conditions considerably more difficult for them, while giving tax breaks (and protecting tax loopholes) for millionaires.
It may seem like a ridiculous message for a major political party to push in the wake of the most devastating economic disaster since the Great Depression, but Republicans apparently assume most low-income voters won't show up on Election Day anyway, and those voters who do participate can be scared by talk about "socialism."
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Dumb and gross!
I was right she was born in 1943 so she is a wee bit younger than me. College costs were much, much less when she went to shool. I think my year and 1/2 at Western Michigan University cost my folks a total of $7500 and that included a year in the dorm. Try doing that at any school in 2012 even an instate college you can't even get a semester for that.
What's interesting is do you remember that, I think it was Nissan?, commercial that came out that said they'd give you a $3,000/yr rebate for your car? And the announcer said 'that's enough for a whole year's tuition'? I remember hearing that and I was like do these people realize that they are insane? Apparently even my generation's parents are out of touch w/ the reality of tuition price increases.
I need to be more awake when I post, noticed some nasty typos in my last post and poor grammar too.
I don't know what was more annoying The Vice Queen of the Wingnuts (Bachmann is the queen) or the host agreeing with her
I challenge any one of these yutzes to come to my house and watch me try to pay my bills on that cushy safety net. Food stamps are great, but unless you make less than $270 (I might be a little off on that) a month, you don't qualify for cash assistance. Food is good...paying my rent is better.
What is missing from this whole conversation is STATE UNIVERSITIES were SUBSIDIZED 'back in the day'...this is when politicians believed in EDUCATION. I paid $218 a quarter for tuition and that was SUBSIDIZED 80% by my state. I worked for minimum wage but worked for a corporation that believed in EDUCATION so they paid my part...$218.00. My daughter go to the SAME SCHOOL in the fall and tuition is $14000 a year...three quarters. No subsidy. She can't find a job to even cover incidentals. YOU do the math. Ms. Foxx is a sanctimonious hack that couldn't find her head EVEN if she pulled it out of her ....
Please send your comment to the good congresswoman. And it wouldn't hurt to send it to the letters to the editor of some of the local papers. Your comment is very well done, concise and to the point.
And regarding the latter, they're probably right. The depressing truth of the low information voter.
I live in her district and have had to tell her people to quit sending full color, large mailings trumpeting her accomplishments, at taxpayers expense. So they sent them to my wife. She is an embarrassment to NC and and our district, but may get reelected anyway. I won a tour of the Capital Bldg.
with her at a charity event, but will NEVER take her up on it.
With all the information out there, it's hardly even neccessary to have a degree when you can teach yourself all you need to know. You just have to find an employer willing to hire you. Some of the highest paying jobs out there are being done by people without even a years' worth of college. Americans just need to protect our books, and our history. protect all the sources from which our knowledge has come. I just learned how to braid rugs and plant vegetables. I am now learning how to eat healthy. Ancient History has now become my new interest.
Yeah, right. The guys on Wall St. just have a high school education. Lawyers, doctors, just have a high school education. The vast majority of people making lots of money with only a high school education are in the narcotics industry or the identity theft industry. How much can you sell a braided rug for?
Exactly, I get more enjoyment out of something that I have created versus ripping people off. I would be most happiest helping others learn how to enjoy living longer healthier lives free of hate, anger, violence and destruction and yes, I see destroying Gods' earth as destruction.
"they graduate with $200,000 of debt or even $80,000 of debt "
Right! Someone with a high school education is going to find a job that will pay between $80,000 and $200,000 after taxes. This twit really has no business being in a position where she influences anything.
What do you need all that money for?
Angel#77 - I've checked your old posts and know your statement is sincere - here is an explanation (sort of) for your question.
My uncle was a very wealthy man - one of the biggest farmers in his county. We were making small talk at a funeral one day when he said " You know - I never wanted all of that land - it's just that I always wanted the farm next to me." He did not crack a smile - he was not known for his humor - it was an honest statement.
That's how some feel about money - no matter how much they have - they need one dollar more. Their feelings of self worth are contained in a set of financial ratios.
Still, the world can support only a finite number of artisans - most of us end up being the technological "drawers of water and hewers of wood". Those jobs require at least a two year degree and certifications. While you are correct that there are a few extraordinarily gifted or just plain lucky individuals in our society who make a lot of money without a formal education - they are the exception - not the rule. Most of us are ordinary with middling luck. If we can managed to get an appropriate education, work hard, not make any major mistakes or have any major illnesses - we can do OK.
There is a Catch 22ishness to this issue. Only those who must struggle the most to afford it, really need to go to college. The extraordinarily rich can, if they wish, be the “lilies of the field” – they toil not and the trust fund is large etc. …
Adam_Selene
non sequitur much?
Of course she didn't have to get a loan to get through school. It was a simplier time back then...They'd only just gotten rid of rationing.
*roll eyes*
and i have no tolerance for cross-eyed potatoes. let's see her try to get that education today without borrowing money.
Wow! She hasn't checked the price difference, obviously. I too worked my way through school, but in the late 1980's that was possible. Tuition at U of O for 18 credit hours was around 600-ish a semester. My current students at UNT practically fall out of their chairs when they hear that! Yes, I lived frugally, and worked jobs, and had a smidgeon of family help (seriously, a smidge of a smidge) but if you were careful you could do it. I cannot see how students can now - no matter how many outside jobs they do.
Heaven help us all.
Feed the rich. Starve the poor.
Let this be a lesson to all VOTE. Please make sure BEFORE November that your state's laws will still allow for you to do just that. Vote.
I too listened to the Foxx interview and once again realize how out of step the Republicans truly are with reality. I just can't help but think to myself that if we had all the super pac money that is being poured into the campaigns being raged by the Republicans to basically get rid of anything that would take our country forward, including education, we would not need any government appropriations or programs of any sort to pay for them.
We can go on and on about the Foxx interview and all the other nonsensical spewing forth of the right, but until the general populace actually takes an active interest in what is happening and wakes up to go behind the scenes of what is being perpetrated in this country by the right we will continue to digress. I have just now gotten Rachel's book, Drift and am almost giddy with anticipation of reading it, and not surprisingly, her book jacket contains a brief comment by Andrew Bacevich, whose book Washington Rules was as brilliant. An additional book - and certainly not the only one - that clearly is illuminating is Idiot America, How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free, by Charles Pierce. People's eyes can be opened if they want them to be. And Bravo to Rachel who helps open our eyes each and every night!
Apparently the ugly bitch doesn't believe in self made people like Obama. And appearing on Iran-contra criminal Gordon Liddy show? Please spare me!
Fox makes women legislators look dumb, disconnected, ignorant and total oblivious to the needs of the ppl she serves. she gives professional women a bad name. And she is no credit to her gender. She is CONSERVATIVE meaning backward looking and afraid of the future. Conservative used to mean CAUTIOUS, reality based and careful. Present day conservatives only look back and wish for the good ole days that never were.
Opportunity? Since 1980 a big transfer of wealth/income to top 10% courtesy Tax Book loaded for Rich and Corporations. Today top 50% get 87% of Income and 70,000,000 workers get 13%. Today, top 10% own 73% of Financial Wealth, 83% of Financial wealth and get 50% of individual income.
Since 1980. Land Of Opportunity to transfer from middle class to top 10%. Initiated by Reagan 60% Tax Cut for top incomes. Capped by Bush Tax Cuts.
Bush 8 budgets increased Debt by 6200B. Deduct 200 for O 8 months in 2009 gives 6000B. 5100B came from Tax Cuts, Two unfunded Wars, Unfunded Part D.
Since 1980, 20 years three Republican Presidents took 600 budget to 3500(less wjc itsy). 1000 Debt to 10,000, 222,000 net new jobs per month Carter + Clinton down to 99,000.
Top1% after tax income grew 281% and Middle 20% grew 25% or a net loss due to inflation. Initiated our involvement in 10 foreign conflicts. Smashed S&L Industry, Housing Industry, Financial Industry plus created the Great Recession.
Want More Of That?