The belief that making public universities free is a bad idea because it would help rich kids is like believing felons shouldn’t get a vote because then so would the Green River Killer.

Why would you disenfranchise six million people to make sure you disenfranchise that one.

It’s an argument that plays to the same insecurities as the myth of the welfare queen. Yes someone will probably get more financial assistance than they actually need. They’ll exploit the system.

But why would we punish the many people who need help because of a few who don’t.

The American obsession with making sure no one gets a dime more than they deserve is exhausting and ultimately self-defeating. Lack of social trust costs us solutions. Prosecute corruption and fraud. Increase transparency. Get to know your neighbor.

The world’s a group project.