In the past few weeks, the top runners for the 2004 presidential election proposed plans that will greatly affect our generation. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the top candidate for the democratic nomination, and current President George W. Bush proposed their plans for student loans for higher education. These proposals are central to college students, but most have their heads in the clouds when it comes to matters that affect them.
Kerry wants to increase spending on Pell Grants and increase the amount students can borrow from $23,000 to $30,000 over four years. Bush proposes to keep the amount to $23,000, but increase what college freshmen can borrow from $2,625 to $3,000 and also provide low-interest loans to students from low-income families. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, it is important to take a stand and even more important to research who you want to be America’s next president.
It is no secret-the issues that get debated are for people who vote, and college students do not vote. In the Loquitur editorial meeting on Monday, out of 24 people in the class, five people were not registered to vote. However, out of the 19 people who were registered to vote, only seven voted in the last election they were able to participate in. One person said most of the issues candidates talk about students do not see as affecting them, but it is just the opposite.
The nation has a very large debt, $7 trillion to be exact. In as little as 10 years, the working world will be paying that off. Our parents will not be paying it off-most will be retired then. The college students of today will be paying for the tremendous amount of debt of the last decade or so. This is an issue that will directly affect us, but still college students are turning a blind eye to it.
Your vote counts. The last presidential election was decided by fewer than 600 votes. Young people can change the future. What is happening now will shape the future. It is time to get motivated and start researching and voting on how you want your future to pan out.
Posted to the web by Marisa Gallelli
