Free, free, free, lots of free stuff being floated around by presidential candidates. Nothing is free. Nothing, someone always must pay. So, let’s look at a Free! education. Does that mean that the professors, faculty and staff, will work and educate for nothing? I don’t think so, although it may be a good idea. Does Free! mean that the schools IT, Maintenance dept, and suppliers will work or provide at no charge? I don’t think so. Free? means that someone else will pay. Who might that be? Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren wanted to tax millionaires, until someone reminded them, they are millionaires, so now let’s tax Billionaires.

Billionaires don’t become billionaires by being stupid about their money. The instant you try to tax their money, it will be gone, out of reach to tax. Offshore, hidden, Trusted out, they will find a way. So now what? Let’s tax Corporations, they can’t hide. But Corporations, in fact any business has an obligation to make money for the owners. So, in order to keep profits up, the corporation will either raise prices, you pay, or reduce overhead, meaning layoffs. So, the net effect is a father of 3 gets laid off so someone can have a free* education. And there is no guarantee that the education will be completed and put to good use. I have other suggestions.

1. Create a non-government sponsored trust fund and let Bernie and Liz (et al) deposit their money, so others can use it.

2. Let the free market work it out. Already major corporations have dismissed the degree requirement for employment and are offering tuition reimbursement as an incentive to work there. That is the best choice for Free.*