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While education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, children who have lost parents have given up hopes of advancing to higher education, including college

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Toshihiko Kudo, executive board member of the Tokyo-based NPO, ''Ashinaga'' (Daddy Long Legs) that provides scholarships to orphans.

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So make education free for all who pass the necessary exams. A living-expenses grant wouldn't go amiss, either. If necessary pay for it with a 'graduate tax', though if people are able to earn more because of their education they'll be paying more in taxes anyway.

It would also help raise the birth rate if people knew that the child wouldn't cause a seemingly endless haemorrhage from the parents' bank account.

Two great big birdies, one tiny pebble.

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So make education free...

Seems like you and I aren't gonna agree on what the definition of 'free' is either.

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So make education free...

Make the cost of going to school or university free. Even an orphan can find a job after high school.

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Make the cost of goin' to school or university free...

It seems like you and I aren't gonna agree on the definition of the word 'free' either.

Convince me why I should pay for your university tuition instead of you payin' for it yourself.

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Convince me why I should pay for your university tuition instead of you payin' for it yourself.

Seems like Ronin's paid-for-by-himself education didn't teach him to read to the end before raisin' objections.

No one is asking you, Ronin, to pay for my, Cleo's, or his/her, neverknow2's, education. pay for it with a 'graduate tax' means that the people benefiting from the education they receive in terms of higher income, pay for it themselves. Maybe it's different in the land of free enterprise where every 7-year-old has his own thriving lemonade-stall business and plays the stock market, but over here no 18-year-old has the wherewithall to find the hefty nyugakukin and tuition fees the high schools and universities charge. They're dependent on their parents. If there's only one child things are not so bad, but with two or three kids at university, most average-earner parents will be struggling. That results in kids being denied the education they deserve, and/or people opting not to have kids in the first place. A well-educated work force benefits the whole country, while a low and falling birth-rate means fewer young folk to look after the oldies.

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Seems like you and I aren't gonna agree on what the definition of 'free' is either.

As in, costing no money.

Yes, I know, taxes etc. Nothing is "free." We get it. Those free tissues you get on the street? They cost money somewhere.

I get your "point," but it might benefit you to make said point in a way that doesn't make you look stupid.

Convince me why I should pay for your university tuition instead of you payin' for it yourself.

This was already addressed in the post you were responding to. But I'll play along anyway.

Convince me why we should pay for any education instead of you paying for it yourself.

Of course, there's that whole "improving society" thing, but hey, why should you have to pay anything? Your glorious opinions should be enough.

"Yeah, we could do this and it might help. But I need more money for beer and hentai porn."

Societies don't run on sunshine and lollipops. Yes, there's a lot of BS government spending, yes, I know there are people who are getting an unjustifiable free ride. If you genuinely believe that higher education for the general population has no worth to society, well, I honestly don't know if your "values" are grounded enough to justify the time necessary to debate with you.

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Convince me why I should pay for your university tuition instead of you payin' for it yourself.

That's a very fair statement. How about free to those with the ability. Rich or poor?? Maybe that could be a fairer system?

Australia has a buy now, pay later system which means both rich and poor can go to school.

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I agree that higher taxes simply does not spell "free". I don`t know why ppl think if the "government" gives something it is free. Ppl are the government and every aspect of government is paid for by the hard work (blood, sweat, and tears) of the people not the government officials. With that said, as someone who pays heavy taxes,I believe society should take care of orphans and if an orphan shows interest in higher education whether it is a technical school or college, I think we should pay for it and I think we can do that without raising taxes. I think it would be cruel to not help the orphans, but at the same time society must be sharply warned not to give up their kids so easily just because it will guarantee an education. Society should be reminded of the multiple wounds a child receives by being abandoned by their parents. Education will never make up for the deep emotional wounds.

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Free education, graduate tax, student loans.......wonder why student loans have one of the highest default rates? Perhaps because those that were not "abandoned" by their parents just are not appreciative enough. We can just add the cost of this schooling to the free roads and museums we enjoy.

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I think we are making a mistake by linking education to actual process of going to schools. A lot of youngsters can benefit more from learning on the job while doing something productive.

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I also agree with nisegaijin. Sometimes education is over emphasized to the extent it drives kids to suicide or extreme mental stress. On the job training should not be discounted and government should not close the doors to those who are very capable of learning complex work skills (computers, mechanics, engineering, etc) but are not academically inclined. But whatever the path may be for the orphans I think society should present the full range of opportunities and offer them to orphans. If they choose the career path, then they will be held accountable by their boss but if they choose the education path, society which pays for the education must hold them responsible by setting limits like if they dont attend classes or dont keep up their grades, then they lose the "free" educational opportunity just as a parent should stop supporting any child that squanders their college funds. I don`t think society should hand out money freely without making sure it gets a return for the investment.

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