Mitt Romney

Campaign 2012: Who’s Better for Higher Ed?

The Atlantic recently declared that the 2012 presidential campaign is “no longer about the economy”; that is to say, given the dire economic straits in which we still find ourselves, it is surprising how much attention the candidates are giving to peripheral issues such as Medicare, welfare, and most importantly for our purposes, student loans. […]

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Student Voices
Ryan’s Plan is Good for Higher Ed

Now that Paul Ryan has joined the Republican ticket, it’s worth considering how his much-discussed budget changes higher education. Ryan wants to cap the maximum amount of Pell Grant awards at the current level of $5,550, eliminating the automatic increase according to inflation. Ryan would also shore up the eligibility requirements, adding a maximum income […]

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In Praise of Ideological Openness

Many people, some conservatives included, say we need to get ideology out of the college classroom. Some professors say proudly, “my students never come to know where I stand.”   I practice an opposite approach. I tell students that I am a free-market economist, a classical liberal or libertarian.  And I am not suggesting that […]

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