Greetings, dear reader.
I won’t pretend to be an expert in Economics. It feels as though something is amiss and an impending event looms—likely something significant, and probably not good.
So, here we are as we roll into the weekend…
Stop educating women
About 40% of women with student loan debt are studying fields that show a low chance of repayment, according to data from the Federal Reserve and the Department of Education.
For men, that figure stands at just 13%.
In sheer numbers, based on the obligations by gender, women are projected to owe around $400 billion. This excludes degrees that have a “moderate” or higher return on investment, which often don’t provide enough value to fully pay off their loans. The total student loan debt has climbed to an astonishing $1.7 trillion, mostly burdening those under 35.
Interestingly, in terms of education likely to pay off debts, the only area where women have a relatively high success rate is in “health occupations.”
When you break down the numbers, only 4.5% of women in “very high” earning degrees, like engineering and computer science, can repay their loans.
For men, that statistic is significantly higher at 20.7%.
To complicate financial issues further, Morgan Stanley estimates that by 2030, 45% of women aged 25 to 44 will be childless. If you don’t see a connection between these figures, well, I have a bridge I’d like to sell you.
This brings me to an aggressive idea I’ve been pondering for Thanksgiving: perhaps we should stop educating women.
This is, of course, an exaggeration, but it feels like a necessary rhetorical provocation given the looming social and financial crises. We face a wave of elderly women without children who may struggle to care for themselves, both physically and financially.
The phrase “Stop Women’s Education” encapsulates the most straightforward perspective I can present. More specifically, I mean halting debt-driven financing for education—something women overwhelmingly pursue. Thus, those taking out loans to study subjects like “decolonization and migration” might need to reconsider.
In my view, these fields rank low in ROI, which should ideally let loan recipients pay off their debts within ten years. (Surprisingly, most banks shy away from risky small business loans, yet education seems to escape that scrutiny.)
Instead, the funding often just fuels transactions, leaving those who can’t lean on family in dire straits.
Meanwhile, trades like welding, heavy machinery operation, engineering, electrician work, and plumbing often yield more financial benefit earlier. Tradespeople also tend to be younger than recent college graduates, plus they generally have less debt.
Moreover, these fields remain crucial and, interestingly, most certified tradespeople are over the age of 55. So, you can anticipate a surge in demand.
Conversely, I envision a scenario where Jim learns to wire office spaces while Nancy supports him post-high school, living debt-free in a household of 25 people, possibly on government assistance.
Once again, I recognize that my perspective may feel rather bold, but even rudimentary calculations support this view.
Continuing the current educational model is leading to issues of population decline and insurmountable debt.
What I’m reading
This guy’s antics remind me of spilled milk.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back in the thick of things.
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I appreciate that she continues to speak her mind.
There’s talk that the CIA allegedly tried to prevent Tulsi Gabbard from revealing truths surrounding Russiagate.
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This next piece of news intrigued me.
Trump’s census controversy could unfold by mid-2026.
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And, check out some essentials, like the beautifully embroidered American flag hat. Just saying.
