From: elendil@mintir.new-orleans.la.us (Edward J. Branley)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc,alt.politics.clinton
Subject: Re: More on Clinton's plan
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 92 23:32:34 CDT
Organization: Minas Tirith BBS, New Orleans, LA

dlo@druwa.ATT.COM (OlsonDL) writes:

>
> Here is another item in Clinton's plan that has problems:
>
> #      6. National Service Trust Fund. To give every American the
> # right to borrow money for college, we will scrap the existing
> # student loan program and establish a National Service Trust Fund.
> # Those who borrow from the fund will be able to choose how to
> # repay the balance: either as a small percentage of their earnings
> # over time, or by serving their communities for one or two years
> # doing work their country needs as  teachers, law enforcement
> # officers,  health care workers, or  peer counselors helping kids
> # stay off drugs and in school.
>
> If students can repay their loan through such community services, what
> will they get paid?
>
> If they get paid the prevailing wage, then they would not be working off
> their loans -- they would just be paid the same rate as everyone else
> who's already doing that same kind of work.
>
> If they get paid less than the prevailing wage, how are people who are
> already doing those things for a living going to feel about a bunch of
> other people doing the same kind of work for less money?  Seems to me
> that the unions aren't going to be too happy about it.
> --
> David Olson            dlo@drutx.att.com
> "The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they
> can bribe the people with their own money."  Alexis de Tocqueville

In most of the careers mentioned in the plan, the prevailing wage is so low
that many of the best people trained to do the jobs just don't go into those
careers.  Take teaching, for example.  I left teaching after four years, and
doubled my salary upon starting a new job one month after school ended.  Police
officers, same deal.  Most cops don't have college degrees when they start.
Many of them go back to school at night and such, but the starting salaries of
cops are so low that most college grads can do better.

Health care workers are one of the best examples.  Here in New Orleans, Charity
Hospital cannot keep qualified nurses because they go to private institutions
where the pay is much better.  Just getting nurses into the system would make
Clinton's plan worth it.

In most of these 'problem professions' like police and education, the unions
don't offer much protection or support to entry-level workers.  It wouldn't be
that much of a problem to deal with them.  Besides, if the jobs are good,
challenging, well-paying positions, then that'll be extra incentive for those
entry-level college grads to stay on after their obligations are met.



|Edward J. Branley                         elendil@mintir.New-Orleans.LA.US|
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