Blog Post #9: Argument and Counter-Argument

Argument: Education= Community Benefit= Societal Responsibility

• Because human capital is a social element, the government and citizens should support graduate students. By receiving a higher degree, these individuals are contributing to the wellbeing of society. Therefore, these students, especially those in the medical field, should be provided with sufficient financial assistance, which would be possible in the form of a GI bill.

Counter-Argument: Education = Individual Benefit= Personal Responsibility

• "As a current graduate student, I understand the heavy burden of paying back student loans. However, forgiving student loans fails to prepare students for realistic financial future. I am attending graduate school because I want to increase my future earning potential, and that comes with responsibility to pay for that education." 
• The individual benefits of higher education include higher earnings, better health and better job opportunities. These benefits allow people to live a comfortable lifestyle, leading to the idea that paying for one's education is a personal responsibility. 
• Unlike Schultz, Milton Friedman believed that education leads people to be at a professional advantage; therefore, it is a personal benefit.