Recent orders
In the United States
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Should the Cost of College Education Be Free?
Introduction
In the United States, paying for a college education is rather expensive, and poor families are the ones left to bear the burden of expensive tuition fees. In the last two decades, the cost of college has increased significantly with the average tuition fees for both public and private universities rising constantly since 2000. According to the College Board, a student support organization, most students graduating from an undergraduate course in public institutions have to part with a minimum of $26, 290 which is unrealistic for many prospective university students. Students from the lower class whose parents cannot afford to finance their education end up taking loans to cater for tuition and other expenses which they repay once they get into employment. Taking into consideration various factors including cost, it would be prudent if college education was made free in the United States as it would reduce the burden of student debts. The debate about whether college should be made free is an issue of moral concern because the problem disproportionately affects students from a low economic background as well as the debt which students accumulate in the duration of college. This essay uses the theory of utilitarianism to provide an argument as to why college education should be made free in the United States.
Background Information
To explain the problem of the high cost of college education in the United States, the theory of utilitarianism applies perfectly. The theory of Utilitarianism was coined between the late 18th and early 19th century by John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham who were economists and English philosophers (Perna, Elaine and Stephanie 1741). While the decision to make college education free has advantages, it also brings forth disadvantages. The theory of utilitarianism is a theory that explains morality and advocates for actions that bring happiness to the community as a whole and oppose actions that cause harm or unhappiness. In terms of economic, social, or political decision-making, the theory of utilitarianism advocates making society better for everyone. The proponents of the theory hold that pleasure of happiness is the only thing that holds true intrinsic value.
Supporting Argument
Making College Education Free Improves Society
One of the main reasons why college education should be made free is because education breeds educated people that can help in solving societal problems hence improving society. As a result, society tends to progress faster. Moreover, people that have gone through college education are better placed to understand their society’s history as well as its current economic conditions. This places them in a position to participate in politics and informing improvements that make the country better. When people are well educated they can be employed in skilled jobs which improves a country’s workforce and reduces the gap between upper, middle, and lower classes of people (Jackson, 36). A better society aligns with the notion of the theory of utilitarianism that supports actions that are meant to make society better for everyone.
Making College Education Gives Students Freedom to Choose a Major they Love
As is, college students are more drawn towards majors that are practical and lucrative and not necessarily what they love. This is because they are studying using student loans and their goal is to graduate within the shortest time possible so they get a good job to help them repay their student loan. If students do not have to worry about thousands of dollars, students and parents will feel at ease. Students can focus on a course within their area of interest as they do not have to worry about the paycheck associated with their course. If students have an interest and enjoy taking a course in their area of interest, they are more likely to stick with it and rarely avoid burnout. The theory of utilitarianism empathizes on pleasure and happiness as the only true intrinsic value in a decision, and as such, making college education ought to be considered.
Counterargument
Making College Education Free Reduces Value of College Degrees
One of the main reasons why making college education is not a good decision is that the decision to make college education free is likely to devalue college degrees. Making college education frees means that all people from all walks of life as long as they are qualified would get an opportunity to advance their education. Further, the decision would pose the challenge of students resulting in cutting classes because they are not looking to get their value for money. If students are catering for tuition fees, they are likely to stick to their schedules and attend all classes because they have a goal; to complete college and to get a job so that they can repay pack their student loans. Currently, the cost of colleges fosters seriousness because there is a financial drive. Without this financial drive, students become lazy and demotivated. In my opinion, although removing college tuition fees poses the challenge of devaluing college degrees, the decision has a greater good which is improving society and giving students the freedom to pursue a degree which they love and enjoy. The decision would foster happiness and pleasure which supersedes the disadvantage.
Conclusion
In question as to whether college education should be made free, the informed choice is to make college free particularly for public institutions. This is because this decision has more advantages than disadvantages and that the advantages foster happiness and satisfaction in line with the theory of utilitarianism. Making college education free would lead to an improved society because learned education is better placed to solve problems in the society by joining the political arena where they can inform changes. Further making college education free allows students to pursue a course they love and enjoy as opposed to pursuing a course based on the returns they are likely to get upon graduation.
Works Cited
Jackson, Victoria. “Ohio Promise: Equitable Free College.” Policy Matters Ohio (2018).
Perna, Laura W., Elaine W. Leigh, and Stephanie Carroll. ““Free college:” A new and improved state approach to increasing educational attainment?.” American Behavioral Scientist 61.14 (2017): 1740-1756.
In the United States during various elections, the turnout is often reported to be low and there are several reasons as to wh
Voting
In the United States during various elections, the turnout is often reported to be low and there are several reasons as to why there is always voter apathy. The first reason is that registration takes work. Being registered as voter in the US is not automatic as one needs to go to an official site such as library or the government office and then they have to fill out paperwork. In 2004 and 2008 presidential election where there was a one-stop shop, the voter turnout was great (Brookshire, 2019).
Another reason is education. Education level has proved to be a factor has studies has shown someone with a college degree is likely to vote as compared to a person without a degree. People with college degrees are likely to be more politically informed thus able to participate. When people are not conversant with what happens in politics they may decide not to engage in voting. People familiar with the political process and what the parties they support vouch for will participate in the voting process and most are often educated.
Another reason why people do not vote is because in the United States there are only two parties. You either have to vote for Democrats or Republicans. These two parties are limiting and their ideas as well as manifestos have remained the same for quite so many years. There are other parties that exist but make no much impact including Libertarians and Green Party. Most people end up not voting for people but rather parties and some feel that even if they vote their vote may have no impact (Khalid, 2018).
The friends that we have and social groups is also another reason that can affect whether one votes or not. According to Eyal Winter he states that voting is always used as a tool to allow others to know who we are. There are some people who don’t care about politics this therefore leads to voters apathy. When a certain social group doesn’t consider politics to be important, the members of the group may not bother to vote.
Ways in which the turnout can be increased is by improving the representativeness of voters and this can be done by providing information to the citizens about the candidates’ positions. When the people get to acquire information about those who are vying and their positions, also sharing their agendas with them will encourage an increase in the number of those who will turn up to vote. The idea of a one-stop shop may also be returned so that people may be able to vote as well as register.
Another suggestion is by holding elections on weekends so that people may get to turn up. Many people don’t go to work on weekends this therefore means that there are many people who will be at home thus making it possible for a large number to turn up for voting. There should also be an improved access to polls which can be done by increasing the number of possible locations for voting and also reducing the time that the voters will spend waiting in line.
Party politics also should not be that big of a deal. People should feel comfortable electing a Republican President because their manifestos suits ones needs and also they can elect a Senator who is a democrat. Often in American politics most people are forced to support Republican or Democrat leaders from top to bottom and at times these leaders do not represent what one stands for. Other political parties should also be given just as much attention as the two major parties so that people may have choices.
Compulsory voting is sometimes claimed to violate a certain right not to vote. Some may assume this right is a fundamental as the right to vote. The existence of this right, however, has attracted little continuous attention. We argue that forcing those who are not interested in participating to vote will bring about a low turnout. Every citizen can decide by themselves whether to vote or it is not compulsory is always by choice therefore whether one votes or not the decision and reason is known by himself or herself and therefore they should not be judged.
References
Brookshire, Bethany. “4 Reasons Why Many People Don’t Vote.” Science News for Students, 3 Dec. 2019, www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/4-reasons-why-many-people-dont-vote.
Khalid, Asma, et al. “On The Sidelines Of Democracy: Exploring Why So Many Americans Don’t Vote.” NPR, NPR, 10 Sept. 2018, www.npr.org/2018/09/10/645223716/on-the-sidelines-of-democracy-exploring-why-so-many-americans-dont-vote.
“One-Stop Shop: Students Can Register to Vote While Choosing Classes.” Georgetown University, 4 Nov. 2019, www.georgetown.edu/news/one-stop-shop-students-can-register-to-vote-while-choosing-classes/.
Fire department services offer highly instrumental services to the society amidst many difficulties that they face in their d
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Fire department services offer highly instrumental services to the society amidst many difficulties that they face in their day to day operations. A great number of the fire departments take care of an overwhelming number of calls for duty annually. High expectations placed on such organizations consist of practical salvage, dangerous occurrences, and acts of extremism and ordinary tragedy that have gradually been on the increase. This has greatly strained the budgets meant for offering of services to the community leading to departments coming up with alternative funding means and methods to curb the challenge. As a head of fire department I would advocate for a number of means and methods through which I would overcome the challenge of inadequate or low capital.
One of the means I would employ is the approach of ‘private–sector facilities’ for funding through donations (Richard 98). Annually, reserved foundations offer great sums of money in terms of donations for community improvement. Career and volunteer fire agencies would be in a position to acquire capital for the financing of their operations and purchase of tools and equipment’s. I would approach these private-sector fundamentals with care though in a bid to avoid conflict of interest.
Some societies are lucky to have public foundations whose finances are readily available to facilitate the offering of safety services to the community, new program venture and helping of less privileged areas financially. ‘I would advocate for the lobbying of endowments’ too from the wider society (Lynn 76). Some companies are quite willing to extent assistance to the community especially in cities where they have their corporate presence. On top of grants some foundations even offer ‘low-interest or no-interest loans’ which could be of great aid to my department (56). I would advocate for those loans to be used in purchase of tools and technology improvement in the department.
I would also advocate for fines, penalties and forfeitures to the members of the public who through negligence and ignorance have led to fire breakout in their facilities and also in community amenities. Members of public would be made to pay for the emergency services in high-risk rescue actions. The retrieval of charges would not only be envisioned to cover the cost of service delivery but also to amend the behavior of the wider community to deter them from carefree habits. Fines would be imposed on nuisance alarms making commercial buildings and residence areas with present ‘fire detection alarm’ which trigger without any danger to part with a good amount of funds in terms of charges (Keith 67). All the funds attained from all these levies, penalizations and drawbacks.
Sale of assets and services would be another source of income that I would recommend the department to employ. Sell of surplus equipment’s to other departments and organizations would bring a great deal of money to the department. Some of the equipment’s are barely used and if sold it would be more better other than remaining idle in the departments since they would attract loss through servicing them.
Sale of services to other organizations would be a great of income that I would approach. This includes offering of training facilities to the other organizations at a certain fee. I would advocate for the department to offer training facilities to the private sector and also other public amenities at a given fee per student or on contractual basis. ‘Also extending the fire services to the wider society’ which is not within the titled area of service (Richard 23). That means arriving into an agreement with the said areas for a quantified duration for a certain fee. This would provide quite a good amount of income to the department alleviating the strain in offering of the services to the community.
Renting of the departments facilities is another source of alternative funding that I would propose. I would rent meeting halls for party meetings, weddings, dancing classes etc. to the general public at a given duty. This would provide a large sum of money income in the bankrolling of the fire package departments.
Borrowing is another method I would use to curb the challenge of inadequate capital in the fire department. These can be done through bonds, participation certificates, traditional loans and also profit-free bonds funding. These funds would be used in purchase of equipment’s major improvements in the department and be paid over time.
‘Cost-saving’ strategies is another method I would employ in overcoming the challenge of low capital (Lynn7). This includes cost-sharing, cooperative purchase, strategic planning, subcontracting and partnership. These are innovative techniques and tools that can help reduce the cost of service delivery.
Leasing is funding strategy that I would employ too. These mean leasing of the department facilities and equipment’s to other organizations at a certain fee for a given duration. ‘Leasing permits organizations to acquire tools and equipment’s required today’ and pay in a well-spread manner over time without straining financially (FEMA 8). By doing so the department would reserve the funds available for the day to day operations.
The above discussed methods if well applied and implemented would help curb the grand challenge of inadequate or low capital facing fire service departments’ .That would ensure high quality service delivery to the society and a great working facilities and environment.
Works Cited
1. Lynn, Woolley. Disaster of an agency.2005.
2. Keith, Bea. “Proposed Transfer of FEMA to the Department of Homeland Security”. Library of Congress, 2002.
3. Richard, Falkenrath, Problems of Preparedness. Boston: International Security, 2001
4. Alexander, Khuel. Pre-hospital systems and medical oversight. Kendal: Kendal pub, 2002
5. George, James. New EMS Response times. New York times, 1990.