People of my age who went to college, go into college, you know what it cost back then? Nothing or next to nothing. At the most, you had to work at Dairy Queen during the summer and that would pay for your college education.
In this quote, Michael Moore, an American documentary filmmaker and political activist, reflects on the significant changes in the cost of college education over time. He contrasts his own experience with that of students today, recalling that in his generation, attending college was incredibly affordable. Moore explains that for people of his age, college tuition was so low that they could easily cover it by working a summer job, such as at Dairy Queen. He highlights how this system allowed young people to gain an education without incurring massive debt, something that is far less common today.
Moore’s statement draws attention to the increased cost of higher education in modern times. He suggests that the financial burden placed on today’s students is drastically different from what it was in the past. His mention of working at Dairy Queen is a symbolic example of how even low-wage summer jobs could once help pay for a full college education, underscoring the disparity between past and present circumstances. This shift is central to Moore’s criticism of current economic policies and their impact on young people’s ability to afford education.
The origin of this quote lies in Moore’s personal experiences growing up in a working-class family and his critical view of the rising costs of education in the U.S. Throughout his career, Moore has used his documentaries to critique social and political issues, including the growing inequality in access to education. His reflections on the past serve to highlight the growing student debt crisis and the barriers to education that many face today, which he believes are a result of policy changes and economic pressures.
Ultimately, Moore’s words emphasize the unaffordability of college education in the present compared to previous generations, calling attention to the changing economic landscape. The quote serves as a critique of modern educational financing, urging a reflection on how much the cost of obtaining a degree has skyrocketed and what that means for the opportunities available to today’s students. It advocates for a reevaluation of the current system and its impact on the future of young people in America.
VAviet an
It’s eye-opening how Moore casually describes college as something affordable through simple hard work. That’s such a stark contrast to today’s reality. It raises a serious question: have we allowed education to become a luxury instead of a right? I worry about the long-term impact of student debt—not just economically, but mentally. How can young people be expected to build a future when they start adulthood already in the red?
TNnguyen thao nguyen
Moore's observation is both nostalgic and infuriating. It makes me think—shouldn't we be striving to return to a time when education was accessible without years of debt? The idea that financial barriers now prevent so many from pursuing higher education is really disheartening. Could more aggressive public investment or tuition reform help rebalance this gap? Or is that dream politically out of reach today?
MNMai Ngoc
This quote hits home for me because I’m still paying off student loans years after graduating. It’s almost unimaginable that working a summer job at a fast-food joint could once cover an entire year of college. I wonder—was the value of education perceived differently back then? Or has it always been about economics and access? It’s disheartening to think that the same opportunity now comes with such a heavy burden.
TNTung Nguyen
Moore’s comment feels like a wake-up call about generational disparity. It must be frustrating for young people today to hear older generations talk about 'pulling themselves up by the bootstraps' when the economic playing field was entirely different. How can we expect the same work ethic to yield the same results when the cost of education has skyrocketed and wages haven’t kept up? It feels unfair and deeply systemic.
MLVu Thi Mai Linh
This quote really puts today’s student debt crisis into perspective. It’s wild to think that just a few decades ago, a part-time summer job could cover a full year of college. What happened? Have tuition hikes truly outpaced inflation that much, or is it also tied to shifts in public funding and policy? I’d love to see a breakdown comparing the real costs of college then and now, adjusted for inflation.