[RICHARD] Free College Program Discriminates Against Most Massachusetts Families

Someone wiser than I am once said, "There is no such thing as free, somebody pays for it."  So, here we go again with the "free stuff."  Get ready to pay.

Governor Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh have announced a joint effort to give "free" college to Boston's poor, provided  they graduate from a Boston public high school and attend one of Boston's three community colleges.  This pilot program requires students to maintain a certain grade point average, meet federal Pell Grant income standards and complete an associate's degree within two and a half years in order to attend a state college or university tuition and fee free.

State Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago is quoted by the Associated Press as saying, "Our message to students is clear - if you commit the time and do the work, we'll be beside you every step of the way to help you complete your college journey while avoiding burdensome debt."

What kind of message does that send to the majority of students in  Massachusetts who have to borrow tens of thousands of dollars to attend a state school?  These students face a crap load of "burdensome debt" upon leaving school.  Their parents committed the unthinkable crime of working but were still unable to afford the outrageous cost of attending a state school and were unable to qualify for grant money.  While they repay their own student debt these students will also pay for those who were given a waiver of responsibility.

This is progressive liberalism at it's worst.  The government choses winners and losers through a redistribution of wealth....and debt.  Add this to the millionaires tax the legislature is attempting to hoist upon us and soon Massachusetts will be void of givers and will consist only of takers.

This is also class warfare.  Funny how we haven't heard a peep though from the likes of the ACLU.

Editor's Note: Barry Richard is the afternoon host on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from Noon-3pm. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.