Twelve days until my future’s decided. 12 days until the biggest financial decision in my life will be made for me. 12 days until the 2012 presidential election.
People ask me why I care about politics. It’s true that politics interest me. However, as far as this election is concerned, my focus is not on personal appeal. I care about this election because it decides the fate of our country, the direction of my life. Why aren’t more students interested in politics?
In 12 days, America will make a choice between two very different people. America will choose a leader whose actions will affect each and every student in JC, whether they know it or not.
The real issue of this election isn’t the economy, isn’t abortion, isn’t gay rights. The economy will continue to grow, however slowly, no matter who is in the White House. Abortion will continue to be fought and gay rights will always be a state issue.
College tuition is the issue that affects our future the soonest. My estimated college tuition will be $50,000 a year, no matter where I go and what I study. A four year, quarter-million dollar investment. I don’t have $250,000 stuffed in my mattress and neither do my parents.
Who cares, right? Aw, poor Bryan Doherty can’t pay for college, boo-hoo. Well, there are tens of thousands of students exactly like me, including many at JC. The best and brightest in the country are being pushed into bankruptcy before they are 30.
That’s if they’re lucky. It is estimated that thousands more don’t attend college at all because of the cost. People with the skills our country needs are being cheated out of the education they need.
Both candidates have made statements about college tuition. Romney believes that student loans should be handled by private banks and lenders. Obama has chosen to double the amount of funding for Pell Grants, a type of federal student loan.
The best solution, however, doesn’t stop the original problem. The cost of education is constantly increasing. It is a fact that the majority of students need loans to pay for their education. Whether they come from the government or private lenders, students have problems paying them back.
Even if the presidential candidates and media are not focusing on college tuition and student loans, young voters should. Students should look into their options for student loans, and how they would change under each candidate’s administration. It’s the most pressing issue for most young people and needs to be treated as such.
Bryan Doherty is an Opinion Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com