Alternatively, if all universities were public, the government itself would be able to keep the cost down (and have an interest in doing so), and everyone would be able to attend university if they want to - but they'd still be forced to keep the educational quality up in order for the country to be able to compete internationally. The educational system would then be paid for through taxes in a system where people with a high income pay a higher tax percentage than people with a low income. This way, the broadest shoulders carry the largest burden financially, and all bright students are given the possibility to study regardless of socioeconomic background.

It sounds nice except for our govt cant even run social security, and the rest of the k-12 public schools. Public schools...aka govt run are lower quality vs private schools. If govt runs the colleges, who is to say they also wont dictate what you are allowed to major in? Your "free" education will come at a price.

If public/govt schools are superior....why does Obama send his kids to private school vs the local DC public school? Same with all the other politicians. And every other rich person. Privately run schools fare better vs govt run. Also "making the rich pay for everybodys college" will backfire. Why Because they will say **** this shit, move to a tax friendlier country and take their money with them.

Well, my comment fared better than I thought it would. I wasn't talking hypotheticals, though. I was actually describing the universities in Denmark. I know this isn't the place to discuss politics, and I also know that the Danish model definitely has its problems - but what I AM saying is that by taking away government loans, as you suggest, the social gap between rich and poor will widen even further for quite a while, until either the universities manage to re-adjust their prices or the government gives in and re-introduces the loans. Lots of young people who would've loved a chance to study won't have the chance because their parents can't pay for their tuition, and they can't get a proper student loan.

Here is a thought. My brother got a fully funded academic scholarship (chemical engineer) paid for (plus room and board) he is a very smart man and graduated with zero debt as a result of the scholarship. Myself however, I have an average IQ vs my genius brother, had to work part time. Took summers off from college to work full time to pay my way thru college. But I also, due to working my ass off graduated with zero debt. People who have the smarts to get a scholarship should continue to do so. College is affordable if you also WORK to help pay for it. You are not entitled to a free college education just for breathing. You have to show the intelligence, and aptitude. I know life isnt fair, and it was never supposed to be easy. Tough luck. Govt loans pay for college...but then upon graduation, you are saddled with $40,000 or more debt while trying to find a job. Some people carry that debt around for years and never pay it off. Its like a boulder on your back to be owing that much money. Its also downright Wrong to "raises taxes" to the point everybody gets their "free" education. How many illegals, and others who never paid a dime of these taxes will then get a free ride?

I'll skip the politics of a Danish style system, but what we found here in Canada, where universities are government subsidized to varying degrees by different provinces is that the closer the tuition gets to zero, the less incentive there is for students to graduate and move on with their lives. In areas with near zero tuition (under $1500/semester) and subsidized meal plans and on campus housing, many students take upwards of six years to complete a four year bachelors degree and, increasingly, more and more of them will never use the degree they have obtained in the work force. College becomes a lifestyle and the work force suffers from a lack of graduates with degrees in the fields that the economy requires.