By Johannes SortoSTAFF WRITER
During the Democratic debate, each candidate had their own strategy to appeal to voters. Jim Webb spoke directly to moderate Democrats, while Hillary Clinton reached out to all the different voting blocks. Bernie Sanders announced his belief that he can win by promising to give away free stuff, raising taxes and creating new jobs.
Unfortunately for Sanders, the majority of the country was not convinced of his ability to successfully rebuild America – though he certainly is the favorite among students at Hofstra University.
The overwhelming support Bernie Sanders has among college students is a concern for our generation as a whole. Naturally, his promises of a higher minimum wage and free college education are appealing to young people. Some argue this can easily be done just by raising taxes on rich people, since they have tons of cash. However, there are many hidden consequences not mentioned during the debate – ones that college students seem to forget.
An important factor that students need to take into account is the potential mayhem that could break out if college were to become free. Our hard-earned degrees will begin to lose their value.
The reason we all study at a school like Hofstra is because having a bachelor’s degree makes you competitive in the job market. The reason young people have difficulty entering the labor force after high school is because a high school degree is not enough anymore. This is because the majority of millennials of age have a high school degree, and so its significance has been lost to the need to get some higher education. If college were to become free, everyone would have a bachelor’s degree, therefore diluting its meaning.
As for the minimum wage, the higher you have to pay the workers, the higher your expenses will be – leading to a more expensive product. To put this in perspective, with a $15 minimum wage, you can say goodbye to the dollar menu.
In regards to taxes, why would McDonalds stay in the U.S., where it must pay a 50 percent tax, when it could relocate to another country and pay less taxes while still being able to sell its product in the United States? It’s simple – raising taxes on the rich will encourage companies to leave, thus leading to a loss in government revenue.
The bottom line is that before election time Hofstra students, and all other new-voters around the country, need to think hard not only about the surface pitches of the policies that the presidential candidates advertise, but also the possible consequences of them. It is a decision that has the potential to change the future of our country, and it is in our best interest to be informed about where we’re heading.
Johannes Sorto is the President of the Hofstra University College Republicans.
The views and opinions expressed in the Op-Ed section are those of the authors of the articles. They are not an endorsement of the views of The Chronicle or its staff. The Chronicle does not discriminate based on the opinions of the authors.