Ben Carson, Bernie Sanders Propose Different Solutions as Campus Activism Explodes
In response to recent waves of campus activism, Republican Presidential candidate Ben Carson is warning Americans about the dangers of political correctness, while Democrat candidate Bernie Sanders helped inspire the Million Student March movement.
Carson, who is an alumnus of Yale University, appeared on Fox & Friends Thursday to warn Americans about intolerance of free ideas on many college campuses.
"There is a level of intolerance for things that are not so-called politically correct that is growing and it's really threatening our freedoms," declared Carson.
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"It seems we are not really emphasizing the whole concept of freedom of speech and freedom of expression and most importantly open dialogue."
Carson added that while he encourages and respects disagreement it's not okay "to destroy people." He called for universities across the country to promote and encourage dialogue.
Sanders was mentioned in an AP story Thursday for helping to inspire the Million Student March in an interview with Katie Couric in June. Sanders declared that Republicans would have to tackle student debt if college students marched on Washington.
Sanders vowed at the time, and has continued to promise free public college education for students paid with by taxes from what he called "Wall Street speculation," or "stock transfers."
"You literally have millions of people, not just young people, paying seven, eight, or nine percent on their student debt," said Sanders, adding that the interest rate is "pretty crazy."
Sanders Tweeted out his support to students Wednesday who feel like they are being discriminated against because of alleged racial incidents on campus.
"I'm listening to the #BlackOnCampus conversation. It's time to address structural racism on college campuses," wrote Sanders.
He added that, "If we could bail out Wall Street, we can make sure every American has access to public colleges regardless of income. #MillionStudentMarch"
Million Student March is an activist organization that is demanding free tuition, student debt forgiveness, and $15 hour wages for student workers.
Carson on Fox & Friends continued to emphasize the silencing of individuals who do not hold the dominant or popular politically correct view on many college campuses.
"People are so frightened by the politically correct police they are willing to do things that are irrational to appease them," said Carson.
"If they continue to capitulate all the time were just going to be pushed further and further in the secular progressive philosophy and America will become something very different," he added.
Carson argued that Americans do not want that and noted that bravery is needed at this time "in order to be free."
Unlike Sanders, Carson is on record of not supporting federal legislation as a solution to lower college cost, instead favoring more market-based remedies.
In a 2014 interview on student costs, Carson declared, "there is a four letter word that works extremely well, it's called w-o-r-k, work."
Carson has proposed that public universities pay the interest cost of the loan, while the students pay the principle. The retired neuro-surgeon says the proposal will force colleges to figure out ways to reduce the cost of tuition.
"The answer is not to create more debt or create income redistribution," declared Carson. "We should ask why college tuition is advancing so rapidly and get to the root of the problem."
