Echoes of the Obamacare "mandate" debate.

This writer argues that college us not a commodity.
http://chronicle.com/article/Why-College-Is-Not-a-Commodity/233011/?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

This brings to my mind the argument raised by the government in defending the Obamacare mandate, namely, that health care is not a commodity analogous to other things on which one might spend money.  Thus, the counter-argument, that we might one day be ordered by Congress to "buy broccoli" was not a valid fear.

You may recall that the Supremes rejected that argument, holding that the Congressional commerce-clause power did not extend to mandating the purchase of health insurance.  However, Chief Justice Roberts retrieved the mandate by finding that it was a tax that could be enacted by the Congress under its Constitutional taxing power.

In point of fact, I think the government's argument that health care is special has greater validity than the Court was prepared to afford it.

I also am sympathetic with this writer's point of view.  Consumerism now permeates higher education, as  students and parents increasingly act as if they are buying a credential and nothing more.  One might well wince when hearing students referred to as customers.

We pass judgment on these so-called customers at the application stage and throughout their college careers.  When they fall short of expectations, we suspend and dismiss them, in essence refusing to sell them the product they covet.  If not unique in the world of commerce, it must come close.

And we in higher ed serve a broader role, educating citizens and conducting research for the benefit of the nation and its people as a whole.  That's why we are either state supported or at least tax exempt... because in return for these advantages, we  provide vital service to the state and society.

That's why, as I have argued repeatedly in this space.  there is no legitimate place for for-profit corporations in higher ed.  Not because they so often engage in fraud;  this is being successfully attacked by the DOE and DOJ.  Not because they are low quality; frankly not all of them are.  No... they have no place because they are selling commodities for profits, while we public and non-profit privates are not.  This distinction will became even more stark if the Clinton plan for free community college and debt-free public four-year education becomes the reality.