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Friday, October 28, 2011

Creating a brighter future

Each new generation of Americans brings hope to our country. That’s why we encourage our children to pursue careers that will get them far in life and contribute to the strengthening of our nation. But a huge dilemma many students face today is if they will find a career in their fields of study and how they will pay off their student loans.

President Obama announced recently that he is proposing new laws that will help out college students with their student loans post graduation.  This proposal will provide much needed relief to American workers burdened with huge student loan debt and contribute to more young people deciding to apply for federal loans so they can advance their educations. This topic should have been on the agenda years ago. Student loans are adding up faster than credit card debts, according to statistics. Statistics show that American students owe more than $900 billion in student loan debt. With loan debts continuing to increase and the job market decreasing, these factors weigh heavily on anyone considering attending college. The average college student will accrue approximately $25,000 in student loans by graduation.  Graduating with a large debt and worrying about the job market are not what Americans should have to face after college.  

Our future depends completely on the younger generation. Obama’s proposal will help millions of Americans struggling to pay their student loans and will encourage several more to attend college. It’s a punishment to spend the latter half of your life paying off a high interest loans to get a good education. There is no such thing as a debt free America, but we can hope for the sake of those Americans who have student loans, that there will be debt relief plan in place soon.

4 comments:

  1. Costs vs. Benefits: College Education
    A fellow classmate brought up an interesting point in blog stage five, explaining the soaring costs of college and how student loans have skyrocketed. As I completely agree that paying for college has gotten out of hand, considering that most college-hopefuls have to resort to loans in order to pay for the education that will hopefully allow them to earn a well paying job, it is key to add that there is more to this dilemma than the cost. The blog mentions that President Obama plans on enacting laws to help pay for these loans post-college, but in the end, will the massive debt accrued to simply get a Bachelors Degree be worth it? Will the outrageous costs be outweighed?

    I personally believe that the college education that everyone strives for has become overrated and shady. Sure, it is a chance for one to better oneself and become more knowledgeable, but again, at what cost? It is now becoming a trend to see students studying in a particular field, graduating, and then unable to find work. It is no longer possible to major in something one truely enjoys or else risk the fact that all the money spent and the debt accrued will go to nothing. That person either has to settle for a low-paying job that has nothing to due with the countless hours put into the past 4-6 years or go back to school and put another $25,000 into the money-machine. Thats another $25,000 in debt and another $25,000 the school is putting into their pockets. I feel that it is no longer about the education and the drive to allow the younger generations to thrive and become successfull but about money and greed. Kids should be able to college without ruining their financial life before their life has even come close to beginning. Its pure insanity to think that college students already have piled up debt before they even reach their 20s. The loans are becoming outrageous and the jobs are harder to find, therefore making college contain characteristics that illogical and ridiculous.

    Bill Maher, a political enthusiast who takes a blunt, yet humorous approach to government and society, recently spoke in one of his "Real Time with Bill Maher" segments concerning college in general. Maher questioned colleges and their purposes, making the suggestion that degrees have become more like "marketing objects" or in other words, similar to something really expensive that you would buy off a shelf at some kind of store. I couldn't agree more. It is not about the education that the degree stands for but instead the amount of money that it is worth. The longer you go to school, the more expensive that peice of paper, that "label" becomes. The more expensive the degree the more chances of an increase in loans. The more loans, the more money banks and colleges are making, but all the cost of the debt ensued on the person. So then, Do the costs outweight the benefits?

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  2. I do agree with classmate Sara's blogstage five that student loans are growing at substantial pace but that is the only truth I see in this argument. Once the great recession hit in 2008 there was a shock sent around the world of a crumbling U.S. economy. Jobs were lost at an exponential rate that our generation has not previously seen. So if there are no jobs and the U.S. has always pushed an agenda that higher education will bring prosperity and the American dream, the only thing left to do is go get that college degree, or MBA.


    In 2009 the applications for MBA rose at a pace never seen before. The thought process of a higher education will increase ones earning power. In an economy that is losing high paying white collar and blue collar jobs, there simply isn’t a need for the “higher educated.” With the low demand of high paying jobs, student debt accumulates. Recent studies that have been published in the Wall Street Journal show that more companies are hiring undergraduates, than MBA’s. College Grads Gain on M.B.A.s states “for some companies, a bachelor's degree means cheaper, more malleable workers. And that's just what they need right now.” There just simply isn’t a demand for higher or highest education.


    If Sara’s facts are correct and the average college student leaves with $25K in debt, then the average MBA student in 2 years leaves with $60K in debt and the same paying job as the undergrad. There is the problem, not the fact that Obama isn’t passing laws to take off the burden of debt on college students then just pass it along to the American Worker, the underlying problem is that high paying jobs are being lost in the US. If America wants to become a major player in the world economy and not be so burdened with debt, there needs to be job creation from janitors to CEO’s so those people working their way up can pay off those loans and still be able to buy a TV, go to dinner and pay with cash not credit. The answer isn’t a “debt relief plan” as Sara quotes, the answer is job creation that creates buying and spending power.

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  3. American Youth: Strength for our Future--In a recent blog posted on Friday October 28th, 2011 by a colleague named Sara entitled “Creating a brighter future”; I was drawn in by her stance on how our American youth is strength towards our future. Sara’s description of herself is posted as a “solid Liberal” and states she has “her own independent way of thinking.” Her Liberal side is viewed in this post which is directed at other Liberals and even Democrats who support working families and in fighting for equal opportunities. I read a description supported by the Democratic Party on a page which explains their beliefs.
    Sara’s argument is that the Government should help “out college students with their student loans post graduation.” Her values lie in our youth and are successful in attracting readers who have the same beliefs. As well as readers that does not have the same beliefs, but are interested in a better future. Sara believes that the government, or President Obama specifically should approve a new law he proposed to assist college students after they graduate.
    The argument posed by Sara is supported well with facts and statistics as well. She makes the observation that in helping out college students in the long run it will add to our society by more youth applying for loans for higher education to get better educated than they currently are. The statistics Sara uses is that “American students owe more than $900 billion in student loan debt” and that “the average college student will accrue approximately $25,000 in student loans by graduation.” These statistics make her argument go from good to great. Not many can argue with a fact that is plainly stated and backed with hard and solid reasoning as well.
    The overall argument is successful because not only does it convince me that the Government should approve the proposed law to assist college students after graduation, it reinforces my current belief that the youth of America is our future. My beliefs are validated and strengthened to accept Sara’s stand on “Creating a brighter future.” This argument also confirmed my thinking that the political world is so caught up in the National debt that their eyes are not open to a true solution to this problem. With more people becoming educated, it will result in a better employee and even in creating new businesses to generate more revenue. We all need to get on one accord to help relieve American’s fears and concerns when it comes to our future in our children and in the American society as a whole.

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  4. Reading Sarah’s article, “Creating a Brighter Future,” is about President Obama’s proposal to help students with their loans. This article was, as you can imagine, very personal to me. As a college student struggling to pay bills, the entire time I was reading this article I was shouting, “Yes! That would be amazing!” in my head. Attending ACC isn’t expensive for a kid living at home, but as I contemplate moving out, school moves further down the list of top priorities. I start thinking about what expenses will be necessary, such as rent, food, and my car, and I get frustrated, because I shouldn’t have to choose between moving out and completing my degree. The decision to help students out with their loans would be an excellent one. Sara’s point that “our future depends completely on the younger generation” is absolutely true. We shouldn’t be so burdened with making ends meet that we are unable to further our education. Without an educated society, America cannot continue in all aspects to move forward in the world.

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