Ryan the Temp said:
I'm not here to sing their praises, so don't wait up all night, but my example of student aid is an area where I have seen incredibly positive impact on the lives of people who were only able to get their college education because federal student aid was available to them. Lots of people I know are positively contributing to their communities and wouldn't be doing that if it weren't for grants and student loans.
Perhaps I'm in the minority here for thinking our nation benefits from that, but I spent a lot of time with a certain former president who constantly impressed upon me that people should believe in their communities, in their states, and in their country. This is just one way our nation has helped people achieve that goal.
Tell me - what is the alternative in the long run? What does our society look like with more financial barriers to higher education?
Back in the 70's kids could work their way through college- hold down a part time job and not graduate with a loan the size of a house mortgage. The only problem was that it took a little more dedication and you couldn't spend 3/4 of your college day drinking, or sitting by the pool at your college country club.
Then they could start working, start a family, and afford a home within a few years after graduation. Kids now will be lucky to have their first home by the time they are 40. Some never will.
I say we go back to the pre-federal student aid model.