Where is the Hope? Where is the Future?

[question everything]

Hearing most of the candidates describing the awfulness of these days I was thinking that for many they might as well vote for Trump. After all, he was the one "observing" the carnage. (which was not surprising that many Sanders' supporters voted for him).

And at least he offered specific solutions: opening the coal mines. Bringing back small manufacturers to the Rust Belt. Offers that he did not fulfill but did create hope.

And, here is a specific idea: mandate that all high school students be proficient in basic finance. Realize what you are getting into before signing that student loan. Perhaps even talk to a loan counselor. No, not a high school counselor. There was a story locally several years ago about a counselor suggesting that a graduate go to study journalism. She went, did not like it, changed several majors and schools and after four years ended with no degree but with $140K loan.

Start at Junior college see what you like and what you do well.

[gtar100]

1. Student loan companies are like trolls at the bridge.

Almost anyone taking out student loans isn't doing it because they have other options. They do it because they precisely have no other options if they want to pursue a higher education. So in an act of faith in themselves, they go with the loans knowing that it means years of paying them off and hoping they'll be able to make it through somehow, find that job that allows them to eat and sleep indoors while paying off their loans. You'll find exceptions, but that's generally the story I hear from college students.

I agree that finance management classes are essential prior to high school graduation. Funny how that is not made a requirement in school when it's a requirement for everyone to survive in this modern world. But still, having a good education on money management prior to college is not the whole story.

Some who have actually paid off their debts are now getting all self-righteous about it and it's as annoying as the bridge trolls. I paid off my student loans, struggling close to 12 years to do it. I'm not whining about getting paid back if tuition is again made reasonable and affordable and others are released from their chains, though I was not.

And I'm not pointing fingers back at kids saying, "well, you should have known what you were getting into." Most do, up front, know what they are getting themselves into and are met with a very harsh economic environment once they finish school. If that's so hard for anyone to understand, then I have no antidote for the kool-aid being consumed.

Fuck these student loan companies and what they have done to our children's future. Fuck republicans who have done nothing but make education more difficult for people to obtain over the past 45 years.

I guess we can at least pat ourselves on the back as a culture that we don't sacrifice our children on the alters atop great pyramids. We prefer to suck the life out of our children slowly, over time, with compound interest.