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Questions

1. Does cartoonist Lisa Benson support or oppose President Obama’s proposal to make community college free for all students?

2. How do you know? (Explain the point of the cartoon.)


Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the answers.

Cartoon by Lisa Benson

Answers

1. Cartoonist Lisa Benson opposes President Obama’s proposal to make community college free for all students.

2.  It is presumed the sheep wearing the coat accepted the offer of a free wool coat. However, the sheep had to give up it’s own wool to get the “free” coat.  Ms. Benson is implying that “free” things from the government come with a price.

Ms. Benson compares this to President Obama’s plan for 2 free years of community college. (i.e. the government will give taxpayers “free” community college by funding it with taxpayer dollars: thus Americans will fund their own “free” college. )

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Read two opposing views on President Obama’s plan to give students free tuition to community college:

  • “The Genius of Obama’s Two-Year College Proposal” at theatlantic.com
  • “6 reasons the math on Obama’s college plan doesn’t add up” at: mcclatchydc.com