[poorgradstudent]

[quote=bearishgurl]I’ve seen a lot of young people fall for these “sales pitches,” but, for the life of me, why would a baby boomer attempt this with age discrimination rampant all over the country? IMO, it’s absolutely financial and retirement suicide, esp in this economy.[/quote]
Well for young people even if you take on $120K in debt to get a degree, long term it *should* still pay off, assuming you stay the course and get your degree in something with market value.

As for older workers, I think it’s a combination of layoffs and feeling unhappy with their current jobs. My own mother never went to college and works retail; there was a time she considered getting her degree but decided the math didn’t just add up. For her it was a straight money decision, but there’s a lot of people where there’s a prestige and emotional component.

I do expect there will be some reform in lending especially with regards to for-profit universities. Both sides of the political aisle have incentive to reform the system, and while their goals might be slightly different, there’s a lot of common ground.

[poorgradstudent]

[quote=walterwhite]What about Einstein? Could not figure out how to get along with his wife and divorced. Are you saying tg is smarter than Einstein ???[/quote]
I’m guessing Einstein was a workaholic. Relativity is a demanding mistress no wife could compete with.

[poorgradstudent]

I graduated undergrad in 2001, and the system has changed a LOT since even I graduated a decade ago. I think it’s easy for those of us who enjoyed the “good” years of well funded pell grants and easier access to very low interest public loans not to realize how the system has changed for the worse.

[poorgradstudent]

The rich in this country have the most to lose if we suffer hyperinflation, so there’s no way they will let it happen. Hyperinflation destroys assets and erases debts.

[poorgradstudent]

What I’m confused by is why Herman Cain, a Republican, wants to raise my taxes with his 9-9-9 plan?

While my marginal tax rate is higher than 18% (Cain’s proposed 9% sales tax + 9% personal income tax… yes, the math isn’t perfect but it’s close), my actual effective tax rate is about 15%. I’m certainly in the upper half of earners for San Diego county.

His proposal is a HUGE tax increase for most Americans. Plus, even with lower income taxes, who wants to pay 17% total sales tax on everything? Would that grind our retail economy to a complete halt?

[poorgradstudent]

[quote=paramount]psssst, TG….it’s not 2006 all over again, it’s just the result of inflation.[/quote]
2006 was the result of loose monetary policy and an administration that loved to spend, so wouldn’t that be the same?

[poorgradstudent]

Corporate profits are up. Salaries and employment are still down. What’s not to hate? The 1% have a lot of explaining to do.

[poorgradstudent]

Another way of looking at it is we could have GDP growth of 0.1% for four straight quarters and while we wouldn’t be in a recession, that would still be a terrible economy.
The economy still sucks, but it has been growing even as government cuts spending.

[poorgradstudent]

I agree that we’re probably in the start of a new recession, although I expect this one to be fairly shallow and short. Still, I’m thankful I just landed a new (better) job, and hope to keep it!

[poorgradstudent]

Just remember that September is possibly the absolute best month for Minnesota weather. I typically go home to see my mother once a year for Christmas and it reminds me just how amazing San Diego weather is. Mn is a lovely state, but you lose 4-6 months a year to the cold, and that’s not even counting the hot, humid summers.

But yes, I definitely miss those wonderful Septembers and mid-springs!

[poorgradstudent]

The original article basically puts forth two hypotheses based on the facts that baby boomers are now empty nesters entering retiring age and Gen Y is entering their prime child rearing years. The first hypothesis is that the Boomers will want to sell their suburban homes in the exurbs and move to smaller, easier to maintain places in more central locations. I do know that a lot of older folks like to downsize once their kids have moved out, but I also know there’s a lot of momentum involved. My own mother has decades of junk in her basement and I will be shocked if she ever moves, despite the lure of being closer to grandchildren. Still, the aging boomer population is always demographically relevant and other good threads have been posted here about how boomers cashing out their homes and 401ks might affect the housing market and overall economy.

The second hypothesis is that Gen Y likes the city more than generations before it. I’m not sure I’ve seen statistical information to support a real difference in their attitudes than those of Gen X.

I think suburbanites have always included two groups of people; those who genuinely like the quiet, open spaces and strip malls and those who view it as a compromise, giving up advantages the city provides for better schools, a lower crime rate and lower $/sq ft. Moving to the suburbs can also represent closing the door on our youth, where our priorities were having fun with few real responsibilities.

Bottom line, I think the trends discussed in this article won’t tip the overall price premium for urban and coastal areas too much.

[poorgradstudent]

Considering the scope of cuts the Federal Government is expected to make in the next 6-12 months, it’s not shocking that companies that do a lot of contracting are cutting back. I think most of us know that a lot of companies cut stupid when they cut, at best using a club when a scapel would be better and at worst cutting productive members of effective departments because someone higher up the chain screwed up and the company is in trouble.

Moving away from contracting is a great opportunity for the government to cut budgets without sacrificing services. As noted in this thread, contractors tend to be much more expensive than employees.

[poorgradstudent]

[quote=flu]That said… Standard disclaimers apply.

1. Your school might have scored well, but your kid still might be an idiot.

2. Your school might have scored poorly, but your kid might be smarter than the average bear.

3. Test scores are pretty much meaningless imho since public schools just prep kids for test scores these days. I just think it’s funny there’s such an obsession with these.[/quote]
This.

API borders on meaningless. It’s a great reflection of how much money the student’s parents in the area make. I’m still waiting for value-added scoring to catch on like it is starting to in LA.

[poorgradstudent]

[quote=flu]That said… Standard disclaimers apply.

1. Your school might have scored well, but your kid still might be an idiot.

2. Your school might have scored poorly, but your kid might be smarter than the average bear.

3. Test scores are pretty much meaningless imho since public schools just prep kids for test scores these days. I just think it’s funny there’s such an obsession with these.[/quote]
This.

API borders on meaningless. It’s a great reflection of how much money the student’s parents in the area make. I’m still waiting for value-added scoring to catch on like it is starting to in LA.

[poorgradstudent]

[quote=flu]That said… Standard disclaimers apply.

1. Your school might have scored well, but your kid still might be an idiot.

2. Your school might have scored poorly, but your kid might be smarter than the average bear.

3. Test scores are pretty much meaningless imho since public schools just prep kids for test scores these days. I just think it’s funny there’s such an obsession with these.[/quote]
This.

API borders on meaningless. It’s a great reflection of how much money the student’s parents in the area make. I’m still waiting for value-added scoring to catch on like it is starting to in LA.

[Author]

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