The Transformative Power of Free Education and Living Wages

Imagine a world where education is completely free and you are paid a living wage to pursue any degree of your choice. Would you change your lifestyle? Would you follow a dream? Explore how different individuals would handle this scenario and the potential benefits it could bring.

Real-World Scenarios and Perspectives

Some individuals have already experienced life changes when faced with no financial barriers to higher education. For example, one person mentions, "I didn’t have to change anything my employers paid for everything except ￡1500 when I changed career and didn't have an employer initially." This highlights how financial constraints can influence career choices and personal life decisions.

Exploring a Lifetime of Learning

With the option to pursue all degrees without monetary restrictions, one person expresses their intention to explore various fields.

By pursuing all the degrees whether I could pass the course or not. Are there degrees in becoming a porn star? This question suggests the variety of interests and diverse career paths one might consider if they were financially unrestricted.

Another individual shares that education is free if you have a library card and the will to learn, emphasizing that it is the degree that costs money. For example, they mention, Education is free you just need a library card and the will to learn. Its the degree that cost money you then end up like the scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz who believes you only have a brain If you have a degree but spout forth a load of rubbish. This statement underscores the importance of both the willingness to learn and the practical value of a degree.

Personal Aspirations and Challenges

ABS mentions their desire to become a doctor, weighing options such as a gynecologist or a fisherman, reflecting on the long-term impact of their choices on personal well-being. They state, I always wanted to be a doctor I was tossing up between a gynacologist and a fisherman either way you'd never get the smell of fish from your fingers. This example shows the personal battles and decisions that can arise from such opportunities.

Another person, with ADHD and chronic pain, shares their intention to return to school, stating, With ADHD and chronic pain it would take a while but I would definitely go back to school. Im not sure whether I would study for a tech career or speech language pathology. My life would likely be worlds better. This reveals the personal challenges that can be mitigated through education.

Pursuing a Technical Career

A different perspective is shared by someone who considers quitting their engineering job to pursue a series of degrees in physical sciences. This person states, I’d quit working as an engineer and take up a series of degrees in physical sciences. I’d learn everything about physics chemistry biology astronomy. After that I would go back to engineer... This reflects the ambition and thirst for knowledge these opportunities can foster.

The Reality of Degree Pursuit

It's important to note that having a degree does not guarantee job security or a specific career. For example, someone mentions, You know getting a degree does not mean getting a job using that degree. There are probably 10,000 people graduating as CSI investigators and about 100 jobs every year. There are thousands of cab drivers with law degrees. People should degree in what is useful not in what makes them happy. This statement highlights the challenges of finding suitable employment post-graduation and the need for pragmatic career choices.

Economic Considerations and Political Context

The idea of living wages being a form of financial burden on others is a valid concern. Someone comments, Nothing is free. That burden is placed on someone else’s shoulders. 'Living wage' is just a clever phrase that politicians invented to lull people into thinking they 'deserve' to burden someone else with the price of their desires and wants and preferences. This idea that voting for the right socialist or the right people to run a socialism has been tried and it's a wreck over and over and over. The very few places this works are places so fabulously wealthy in oil or other reserves compared to the low population that they basically won the lottery as far as that goes. This perspective brings up the economic and political implications of such social policies.

In conclusion, the freedom to pursue any degree without financial constraints could significantly alter individuals' lifestyles, career choices, and personal aspirations. However, it is crucial to consider the realities of job market demand and the broader economic and political context of such policies.