On Thursday, 23 Sept 2010, early AM, I got this comment on a video to my YouTube page:

My YouTube Page: http://www.youtube.com/user/GordonWayneWatts

and:

The video in question: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujwE-OYCjbw (“TownHall Questioner To Obama: 'I'm Exhausted Of Defending You' -PLUS Obama's Response”)

PeanutsDog (http://www.youtube.com/user/PeanutsDog) @GordonWayneWatts wrote this:

“You think Pell Grants and Loans are throwing money at education? Really? I think of it as throwing money at students to get a good education to make this a better country. Obama didn't start Grants and Loans for college students. Taking them out of the hands of banks he's saving money. Republicans didn't do that when they held both houses and the presidency. He can't tell the colleges what to charge. You need to make up your mind if you want govenment involvement or not.”

Normally, I answer comments in forum, but his comment was so good, that I need to have a little more space to address it (it won't fit into the comments or description page), so I will answere it HERE – by parts:

PeanutsDog: You think Pell Grants and Loans are throwing money at education? Really?

GordonWayneWatts: Yes, that is right.

PeanutsDog: I think of it as throwing money at students to get a good education to make this a better country.

GordonWayneWatts: I am not going to be too harsh on you for being an INCORRECT & WRONG LIBERAL, because I used to be an even STUPIDER CONSERVATIVE when I supported the same thing basically – throwing money at educational – when I supported using Vouchers for High Schools and Charter Schools, but I was wrong: If you look at any one of these mirror links, and read it carefully, you'll see THAT method didn't work:

http://ThirstForJustice.net/Higher-Ed-Tuition-Costs.html

http://Gordon_Watts.Tripod.com/Higher-Ed-Tuition-Costs.html

http://GordonWatts.com/FannyDeregulation/Higher-Ed-Tuition-Costs.html

http://GordonWayneWatts.com/FannyDeregulation/Higher-Ed-Tuition-Costs.html

I'd ask any interested party to PRINT OUT this brief article (about 2 pages), its related graphs, and the lengthy sources that I cite to verify my claims & to clarify -and slowly, carefully read it. (I find that reading it offline is generally easier on my back, my eyes, and my soure BUTT in a computer chair -plus I can carry a copy with me.)

For those (lazy folk!) NOT inclined to read this short Op-Ed that published in the Tampa Tribune on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009 in The Tampa Tribune, Views section, p.3., here's the short version:

Before we 'threw money at' Higher-Ed (colleges, universities), tuition was LOW, even adjusted for inflation, but now that universities know a student can afford sky-high tuition by taking out HUGE college loans (guaranteed by Uncle Sam), they raised tuition accordingly. So, is that increase justified by quality? NO! America USED to be tops in the world in education, but now we lag behind other countries in math and sciences, etc. Bottom Line: We've tried it the liberals' way, the the influx of Govt funds distorted the market. BY CONTRAST, McDonald's & Wal-Mart DON'T get 'coperate baoilouts' like this, and guess what? Low prices. LOL

PeanutsDog: Obama didn't start Grants and Loans for college students. Taking them out of the hands of banks he's saving money.

GordonWayneWatts: I didn't accuse him of this, but taking this out of the hands of the free market and putting under govt control is socialism by any definition, so he makes a bad situation even worse -not that I trust the banks, but I trust the govt even less.

PeanutsDog: Republicans didn't do that when they held both houses and the presidency.

GordonWayneWatts: I admit that 'my' Republicans (for I'm a Republican) were EQUALLY LIBERAL and as stupid as well... But, hey, 2 wrongs don't make a right.

PeanutsDog: He can't tell the colleges what to charge.

GordonWayneWatts: He ALSO can't tell McDonald's what to charge for a Big Mac or a Construction Company what to charge for a HOUSE, but when people were able to take out larger house loans, that construction market was tempted (and in some cases, succumbed) to JACK UP the prices -since of course the poor bloke could afford to pay for it -and then the housing market crashed because people who were buying houses were goaded into loans they COULDN'T AFFORD -just like college student who were goaded into college loans they couldn't afford -and we see where both THOSE got it. -LOL-

PeanutsDog: You need to make up your mind if you want govenment involvement or not.

GordonWayneWatts: In case you missed, it I want the gov't OUT of my life in ALL forms -except maybe the military and defending the boarders. That alone is too much for them, so they need not monkey into other areas.

I was blunt, but I hope I was respectful and polite -and of course, accurate.

• Gordon Wayne Watts

• LAKELAND, Florida, U.S.A.