Robert Reich: College admissions are affirmative action for the rich
TUESDAY, MAR 24, 2015 01:00 AM PDT
Robert Reich: College admissions are affirmative action for the rich
The former secretary of labor debunks one of the longest running myths about higher education
Parents are also uptight. I’ve heard of some who have stopped socializing with other parents of children competing for admission to the same university.
With inequality at record levels and almost all the economic gains going to the top, there’s more pressure than ever to get the golden ring.
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So parents who can afford it are paying grotesque sums to give their kids an edge.
They “enhance” their kid’s resumes with such things as bassoon lessons, trips to preserve the wildlife in Botswana, internships at the Atlantic Monthly.
They hire test preparation coaches. They arrange for consultants to help their children write compelling essays on college applications.
They make generous contributions to the elite colleges they once attended, to which their kids are applying – colleges that give extra points to “legacies” and even more to those from wealthy families that donate tons of money.
You might call this affirmative action for the rich.
http://www.salon.com/2015/03/24/robert_reich_college_doesnt_guarantee_a_middle_class_life_partner/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
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---UPDATE---
ROBERT REICH WILL NOT RUN FOR PRESIDENT, NOT YET.....
Robert Reich
2 hrs ·
I appreciate the encouraging words from those of you urging me to run, but I'm way too short, too outspoken, and too unwilling to kiss wealthy posteriors to be a viable candidate. But if Elizabeth Warren remains adamantly opposed to entering the race, and if neither Hillary Clinton nor any other Democratic aspirant is willing to talk about the gross misallocation of income, wealth, and power in America -- and advocate resurrecting Glass Steagall and busting up the big banks; opposing trade deals the are killing American workers and boosting corporate profits; making it easier to form unions; limiting CEO pay; raising the minimum wage wage to $15 an hour; raising taxes on the rich to pay for better schools and infrastructure for everyone else; raising the cap on income subject to the payroll tax; and reversing "Citizen's United" and getting big money out of politics -- then I will have to reconsider.
https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/posts/972792472733349
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