I understand what you are saying but there is a huge demand for vocational education programs that are NOT taught in high schools or typical 4 year college programs.
I know the president of the local community college here in NH. It was formerly called the NH Vocational Technical College.
Their program in automotive body work is sponsored by several local automotive dealerships. Every person coming out of the program has a job. Some of the local car dealers pay for kids to go through the program.
In addition, they are trying to get an airplane mechanic program. An air traffic controller program. Even a airplane pilot program. Another program they are trying to develop is welding.
So, no I do not think community college should be free for ALL programs. We certainly do not need more Gender Studies graduates. We need more DIRTY JOBS graduates.
I’m all in favor of vocational training for those who really want it. But it cannot be watered down to the lowest common denominator level of the dumbest student.
And students have to be invested in it. Free education is a death knell to that education.
Welders are in such demand here in North Idaho that recent vo-tech grads can be making $100,000 per year not long after graduation. And the shops still can’t find good welders to hire.
The big problem with Gender Studies, White Privilege Studies, Toxic Masculinity Studies, and Radical Feminism is those grads have zero marketable skills and all they can do with it is become “activists” and lead BLM marches or teach the same agitprop crap to other rubes.
The problem is that people like Patrisse Marie Khan-Cullors Brignac get filthy rich at it and buy four houses in luxury neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Or grifters like Obama are able to buy a $20 million palace on 30 acres in Martha’s Vineyard.