Dan Lipka Web Log

The Biden administration is proposing to use approximately $400 Billion dollars to forgive some student debts (up to $20,000). I hate when I'm on the side of the Republicans, but this proposal is madness.  This relief only applies to those with current debts. So if you just paid off your student debt, or worked through college to not have any debt, or if you are set to start college next year, well you are out of luck. The villains here are the colleges who charge ridiculous amounts of money and do not provide the type of education that will realistically give students a manageable way to pay their debts. This program is actually just giving these colleges money. This will give future students a false sense of security to go to unaffordable schools thinking they may get money down the line too.  Why do students get money for their debts, but not other people. This is a subsidy the excludes a vast majority of people.   So what would be a better option: Force colleges to justify thei

Last night, with the support of President Biden, a potential nation-crippling railroad workers' strike was averted. Is this a win for Biden? Well, not in my opinion, as it never should have gotten this far. However, a strike would have been a disaster for him. Let's see how the media is covering this: Washington Post: It is the top story "White House reaches tentative agreement to avert national rail strike" Fox News: Not only is there no article, but the 20th story is "National strike threats loom as labor unions become more emboldened", which is outdated. NYTimes: it is the 3rd story, "Railroad Companies and Unions Reach Tentative Deal to Avoid a Strike" NY Post: it is the 80th story (appox), right below a huge Hunter Biden story, "Biden says 'tentative' deal reached to avoid national rail strike". USA Today: Top story "Biden calls tentative labor deal a 'big win for America' as railroad strike is averted: live upda

President Biden's national address was long overdue. I have no doubt that Donald Trump is a danger to the progress of this country and freedoms of so many of our citizens (including those who currently support him). Trump (with the full support of many long-time and very powerful Republican leaders) is actively creating a new political party that has only one vision, which is to be completely loyal to Donald Trump. Whatever Trump says is the "Truth" and they will go wherever he takes them (regardless of the law or its impact). He has denigrated any opposition as to make it appear that he is the only option. He is following the fascist playbook with general incompetence, but it is still working.  Biden's speech addressed these issues relatively directly, with some details, in a very professional and Biden-esk manner. It was "presidential" and serious, but the call to active was very vague. This speech was years in the making, but I guess it is better late tha