While speaking to a Tea Party group in Michigan last week, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum revealed what he thinks of higher education. 

“President Obama once said he wants everybody in America to go to college. What a snob,” Santorum explained. “There are good, decent men and women who go out and work hard every day and put their skills to test that aren’t taught by some liberal college professor trying to indoctrinate them. Oh, I understand why he wants you to go to college. He wants to remake you in his image.”

Where do we start? 

First of all, there is no longer an elitist stigma associated with being a college student. In fact, it’s becoming more and more obvious that society demands a basic undergraduate degree to even be considered for a decent job. This is something Santorum must’ve realized when he attended Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh, where he eventually attained a higher degree than Obama himself. 

Second of all, people continue their education past high school because they want to, not only do something they love to do, but also become certified to do it well. They decide a career path and choose the best school to provide them with in-depth education and critical thinking skills they can use in their field. The great thing about America is that we have the freedom to make this decision; the problem right now lies with everyone having access, which relies on affordability. 

That’s what President Obama is addressing. It’s not some liberal conspiracy to breed a new generation of liberal machines to support a “1984” totalitarian government. 

Lose the paranoia, Santorum. We know it’s tough to agree with a political opponent, but attacking something as universally accepted as a college education only hurts yourself. Everyone deserves an affordable college education just like you had.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board.