In exchange for their last remaining bits of entropy, the branches cast evil spells on future genera- tions of processors ... The point is that the branches, those vanquished foes from long ago, would have the last laugh.
It'd be more hilarious if he didn't reference real problems with no obvious solutions short of a painful dismantling of our heavily exploited societal constructs.
The problem I have with free college is that college, while expensive now, is already nearly compulsory for a lot of jobs that don't require it. A degree in any irrelevant thing is used as an arbitrary deciding factor. Free college will make for compulsory college as everyone will need a degree to have a chance. Then we actually lose value from the opportunity cost of people not working.
Disclaimers: obviously, yes, I think education is great in general. And I actually don't mind social education. I just think it's easier to get this wrong than right.
https://www.usenix.org/system/files/1309_14-17_mickens.pdf