artful_todger_502

artful_todger_502 t1_j52gx1g wrote

I totally agree. Education is what will make us a first-world country. That is why certain entities are terrified of it and vociferously against it. When I was younger, there was no stigma with not going to college. Some kids were college, some were trades. I wish we would get back to that. A system that demands a ransom/loansharking scheme for a career needs to go. Anything that can force the system back to a place where non-degreed people can have nice things would be a huge step to economic parity.

I will spare you the details of us trying to figure out my Wifes loans. 25 years and it didn't seem to budge. She eventually did qualify for the educator relief, but what we found out, or didn't, as it were, was mind-numbing. There was no one, over the course of at least 200 phone calls, who could tell us how her interest was accruing. They also lost 24x$400.00, or two years of payments. Just gone. It can't be fixed.

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artful_todger_502 t1_j4g86jp wrote

I dont have a lot to add, I worked for PA gov for a short time but my Dad retired from it. He had to work until 70 for full medical, but my goodness, what a lifesaver full pension with medical was. He got very sick later, but his PA pension allowed him to live out his final time in a very nice situation. I am truly grateful for that. As others have said, feed your pension, feed it often!

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artful_todger_502 t1_j3dwoha wrote

I didn't downvoted you and respect your opinion. I believe both the military and incarceration system are wrong for 18 yr olds. I also think wanting to work is an admirable trait, but most jails are violent, depressing and dehumanizing places. People who have no life experience would do better to work in a pizza shop or something. That is a young person's time to find themselves, meet people, and contemplate their future. I just cannot see any upside to a young person getting involved in an industry like a prison/jail system.

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artful_todger_502 t1_j09rxvp wrote

Can you imagine if this was a real, first-world country? Trump cesspool would be into the second year of their prison sentences. We have a literal Iranian caliphate for the highest court, and a political party that actually has power, run by violent, sub-intellected Orcs who believe in space lasers and pure-blood conspiracies ... It is too kind to say "3rd-world country," we are on our way down to Somalia or Afghanistan.

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artful_todger_502 t1_izdwecr wrote

Not a dorm, but a residual effect this has is, landlords that rent in student areas charge outrageous security deposits because they know they never have to give them back. So rentals in student areas are in a perpetual state of disrepair. It actually pays landlords to have them trash up their living spaces. The whole area suffers.

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