Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Election Day!
Election day is finally here and I hope everyone that hasn't voted yet took the time to cast their ballot. Voter turnout may be affected here due to gloomy weather and rain but lets hope everyone just put put on some rain boots and jackets and voted anyway. I know I voted last week but I saved some stickers and took full advantage of free Starbucks and Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Shame on you to all of you non voters who don't want your voice to be heard. According to CNN Obama is in the lead right now with 174 electoral votes and McCain with 64 but since it is only 9:23 many states including a few swing states are still processing their votes so we can't count our chickens before they hatch. With all the excitement from the election one thing is for sure, there will be many disappointed voters tomorrow morning , but there will also be many ecstatic voters as well. As for who will be happy and who be sad, I guess we will just have to wait and see...
Monday, November 3, 2008
One Last Look at Candidates Views on Student Loans Before Election Day
It's almost election day and it looks like the race is heating up. Before everyone goes out to vote tomorrow, I just want to review the candidates stance on financial aid one last time and make sure everyone has an idea of what is going on.
John McCain views the federal aid application and tax benefits as "too complicated" and as often deterring "eligible students from applying for financial aid." He wants to simplify tax breaks and consolidate aid programs so students can track their options more easily. McCaint has not called for expansion of grant programs like Obama, but he has suggested an increase in the lender-of-last-resort capability of the federal government to back loans. McCain also proposed using community colleges to "retrain displaced workers" but hasn't yet set specific goals.
Obama also believes in simplifying the federal aid system, but also propses The American Opportunity Tax Credit, which would ensure $4000 dollars of college tuition in return for 100 hours of communtiy service. Obama also believes in Pell Grant increases and funding for community colleges. His Community College Partnership Program would attempt to reward community colleges for sending students to four-year institutions.
While all of these are great ideas, there is one problem, the budget deficit. Both candidates proposals, particularly Obama's require money, which the government is short of right now. Obamas tax credit would cost the Treasury an estimated $10 billion, which might not be the best idea with the state of the economy right now.“Whoever wins will not have any money to do anything new,” said Thomas G. Mortenson, a longtime independent analyst of student financial aid program. The bottom line is, even with great ideas, it's kind of hard to get anywhere without the cash flow to support them.
John McCain views the federal aid application and tax benefits as "too complicated" and as often deterring "eligible students from applying for financial aid." He wants to simplify tax breaks and consolidate aid programs so students can track their options more easily. McCaint has not called for expansion of grant programs like Obama, but he has suggested an increase in the lender-of-last-resort capability of the federal government to back loans. McCain also proposed using community colleges to "retrain displaced workers" but hasn't yet set specific goals.
Obama also believes in simplifying the federal aid system, but also propses The American Opportunity Tax Credit, which would ensure $4000 dollars of college tuition in return for 100 hours of communtiy service. Obama also believes in Pell Grant increases and funding for community colleges. His Community College Partnership Program would attempt to reward community colleges for sending students to four-year institutions.
While all of these are great ideas, there is one problem, the budget deficit. Both candidates proposals, particularly Obama's require money, which the government is short of right now. Obamas tax credit would cost the Treasury an estimated $10 billion, which might not be the best idea with the state of the economy right now.“Whoever wins will not have any money to do anything new,” said Thomas G. Mortenson, a longtime independent analyst of student financial aid program. The bottom line is, even with great ideas, it's kind of hard to get anywhere without the cash flow to support them.
Further Reading
The following links provide excellent information for anyone wishing to research student loans and education further.
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/education/index.html
The New York Times has the latest news about all kinds of issues locally, regionally, and internationally. This specific link provides the most recent and most important articles on all things education including elementary, college, private, public, and anything in between.
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/education/
Obamas website presents his platform and here you can learn his views on education and how he plans to change the education system.
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ce50b5-daa8-4795-b92d-92bd0d985bca.htm
McCain presents his ideas and views here and this link takes you straight to his education platform so that you can look at his views for yourself.
http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2008012500
CQ Researcher provides all sorts of information on student aid as well as many useful links top different sites about student aid.
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/fafsa.jsp
This website allows students to fill out the FAFSA form as well as tells about the federal aid offered to students.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.education.html
This webpage from CNN also discusses the views and stance of the 2008 presidential candidates on education policy.
http://www.nextstudent.com/student-loan-blog/blogs/sample_weblog/archive/2008/10/30/1366.aspx
This blog on student loans is updated often and helps student to know what is going on as far as financial aid is concerned. It also gives advice to students on how to recieve loans and what would be best for them.
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/education/index.html
The New York Times has the latest news about all kinds of issues locally, regionally, and internationally. This specific link provides the most recent and most important articles on all things education including elementary, college, private, public, and anything in between.
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/education/
Obamas website presents his platform and here you can learn his views on education and how he plans to change the education system.
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ce50b5-daa8-4795-b92d-92bd0d985bca.htm
McCain presents his ideas and views here and this link takes you straight to his education platform so that you can look at his views for yourself.
http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2008012500
CQ Researcher provides all sorts of information on student aid as well as many useful links top different sites about student aid.
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/fafsa.jsp
This website allows students to fill out the FAFSA form as well as tells about the federal aid offered to students.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.education.html
This webpage from CNN also discusses the views and stance of the 2008 presidential candidates on education policy.
http://www.nextstudent.com/student-loan-blog/blogs/sample_weblog/archive/2008/10/30/1366.aspx
This blog on student loans is updated often and helps student to know what is going on as far as financial aid is concerned. It also gives advice to students on how to recieve loans and what would be best for them.
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