Debt-Free College
Debt-free college received a lot of discussion in the debate, again with conservative framing, "So who pays for all that?" This sets the answer up to reply to a need for austerity rather than the good that providing education would do for our people and economy.
But this provided Sanders the opportunity to give one of the memorable answers in the debate. The moderator demanded to know how high Sanders would raise tax rates.
"Well, let's get specific, how high would you go? You said before you'd go above 50%. How high?"
Sanders: "We haven't come up with an exact number yet. But it will not be as high as the number under Dwight D. Eisenhower which was 90%. But it will be -- (LAUGHTER) I'm not a socialist compared to Eisenhower."
The question also gave O'Malley the opportunity to add:
"I mean, under Ronald Reagan's first term the highest marginal rate was 70%. And in talking to a lot of our neighbors who are in that super wealthy millionaire and billionaire category great numbers of them love their country enough to do more again in order to create more opportunity for America's middle class."
Quotes on debt-free college:
Clinton: "We should have debt-free college if you go to a public college or university. You should not have to borrow a dime to pay tuition. ... And together we make it possible for a new generation of young people to refinance their debt and not come out with debt in the future."Sanders: "I want those kids to know that if they study hard, they do their homework, regardless of the income of their families, they will in fact be able to get a college education because we're going to make public college and universities tuition-free. This is revolutionary for education in America -- it will give hope to millions of young people."
O'Malley: "I believe that actually affordable college, debt-free college is the goal we need to attain as a nation. " I believe the goal should be debt-free college. ... We can have debt-free college in the United States."
For a comparison of candidates' plans on making college affordable see Campaign for America's Future's Candidate Scorecard.
Minimum Wage
In another conservative framing of a question moderator Kathie Obradovich asked a question about raising the minimum wage by stating this would cause people to lose jobs. She said it"could lead to undesirable and unintended consequences like job loss. What level of job loss would you consider unacceptable?"
Sanders:
"Real inflation accounted for wages has declined precipitously over the years. So I believe that in fact this country needs to move toward a living wage.
"It is not a radical idea to say that if somebody works 40 hours a week that person should not be living in poverty. It is not a radical idea to say that a single mom should be earning enough money to take care of her kids. So I believe that over the next few years, not tomorrow, that over the next few years we have got to move the minimum wage to a living wage $15.00 bucks an hour. And I apologize to nobody.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
