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Did Mitt Romney really just say that it's a good thing that only one of his wife's uncles could afford?

I think he was trying to argue that social mobility is a good thing, but he missed the point of his story.

He talked about his wife's father and his siblings. They could only afford to send 1 kid to college, so they chose 1 of them and that one went on to be successful. Doesn't that story illustrate how much better it would be if we had a system that could have educated the whole family so that they could each fairly compete with kids lucky enough to have rich parents who could send them to college? Shouldn't the cost of education be something that is largely shared through a better public pre-K through college education system that allows all kids to compete on equal footing so that the most qualified people can make this country better?

(This was just on CNN live at a rally, I'm sure the video will be available later today.)

Update:

I'm just discussing the disconnect between what Romney think's is the message of his story and what I think his story actually illustrates. I'm not discussing how accurate that illustration is or what should be done about it. That's a much longer discussion.

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  • ?
    Lv 6
    10 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Considering Mitt Romney's upbringing it doesn't surprise me that his anecdotal example of middle class (or lower) choices is confusing.

    He grew up being able to write a check for whatever he desired.

    Not intended as a slam on Romney, he was extremely lucky to have the hard-working wealthy parents that he had.

    But it illustrates his disconnect with the lower 98% of US citizens who must count their change and shop with coupons.

    Yes, I believe each state should be capable of providing it's students with an affordable and quality education.

    When I grew up in California the state prided itself on providing such a benefit.

  • 10 years ago

    As to education:

    I'm referring to my state, New York:

    There is no lack of funding. The cost of education has been going up year after year.

    At minimum we're now paying 20K plus, per student.

    Yet 75% of so-called high school grades entering New York community colleges

    REQUIRE remedial help to continue higher education.

    To describe this phenomena you can use a phrase imported from the computer world:

    "Garbage in, Garbage out".

    It's not the lack of money investments turning our children into morons, like the ones

    you see protesting on Wall Street, it's the decadence from years of Liberalism.

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