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rickford66

(6,053 posts)

16. GI Bill was great

Reply to MineralMan (Original post)

Mon Feb 2, 2026, 02:25 PM

Monday

In 1971 I finished my engineering degree which was interrupted by a tour in the NAVY. Later in 1977 I returned to college for an ASS degree. All that time my wife had a minimum wage job and we owned a very modest home, two very used vehicles and a 5 acre woodlot. My neighbors joked that I was on welfare. Hey you put on the uniform and "they" own you. That was the first thing said to me after taking the oath. The GI Bill was a bonus if you beat the odds.

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In 1970, I returned to college after four years in the USAF. [View all] MineralMan Monday OP

The people have voted to defund themselves and enrich the fat cats. It's crazy. 617Blue Monday #1

It is refreshing to see a fellow Boomer admit dugog55 Monday #2

Reagan gutted California's Higher Education thomski64 Tuesday #26

Ditto...in 1978 my tuition and books were less than $300...I was one of the last to serve under the old G.I. Bill. pecosbob Monday #3

Over the past 30 years, inflation has averaged 2-3% while tuition inflation has averaged 5-6% in the US Shermann Monday #4

Thanks So Much for Your Post. Very Well Said! The Roux Comes First Monday #5

Yep. I'd have not been able to attend Uni if tuition was a whole lot higher than it was late 80's AZJonnie Monday #6

Yep, early 80's very good state University with in state tuition you could definitley find a way to pay tuition ToxMarz Monday #7

In the 1970s, my wife and I worked our way through college and graduate school. Sancho Monday #8

Same story starting in 1969 BeneteauBum Monday #9

The statistics say otherwise Cirsium Monday #10

I don't think those numbers include the cost of tuition loans FakeNoose Monday #14

Of course Cirsium Monday #19

Percentage with degrees is only one statistic that can conceal a problem. Shermann Monday #22

Agreed Cirsium Monday #23

The OP's conclusion is that "it's getting worse, not better" Shermann Tuesday #27

No Cirsium Tuesday #30

Most everything costs ten times what it did in the seventies. twodogsbarking Monday #11

One thing in the financial literacy curriculum is overlooked: debt to projected income JT45242 Monday #12

Realistic, I suppose, but it's just fucking noise. hunter Monday #21

Similar story.. surfered Monday #13

Couple of years behind you, but Maeve Monday #15

GI Bill was great rickford66 Monday #16

I'm about ten years younger than you, and things were much easier than now. yardwork Monday #17

So much was so different in those days. MineralMan Tuesday #25

The GOP has weaponized their own policies against Democrats. yardwork Tuesday #28

The Republicans Are in a Desperate Battle with Reality. MineralMan Tuesday #29

In the late 80s I went back to college and all it cost me was for books. My employer paid the rest. multigraincracker Monday #18

I was a Boomer on the GI Bill in early 70's Bavorskoami Monday #20

I was having similar thoughts lately. We need a shift left. Joinfortmill Monday #24