Please give a round of applause and standing ovation to our president, Barack Obama. I will admit that in some instances I have not agreed with every strategic move that he has made to move our country forward, but the new proposal that he has brewing in the pot is definitely a winner!
I am a strong advocate and supporter of our country providing a solid financial platform for adults seeking a basic college education and being able to pursue this option to improve their future at no expense. From the underlined ingenuity of boosting our economy and giving the displaced worker, the indigent citizen, or the mediocre high-school student from a poor family the opportunity to further their education without incurring a huge deficit sounds like a no brainer to me.
At the age of 18, I avoided going to college for fear of debt I couldn’t pay back. Not born with a silver spoon in my mouth and coming from a one-parent home, I did not have the advantage of withdrawing from a college fund that would cover my educational expenses.
It’s a sad fact but in 2015 and beyond, a certification and/or two-year associates degree seems to be equivalent to having a high-school diploma. A proper education is like an arsenal, a powerful tool, a weapon. Although this type of education has lost some of its value, it is pertinent to one’s success.
Going political for a moment, if I may; I believe without a doubt that our country needs a system that focuses on a better outcome. There are too many people suffering who see no guarantee that their investment in a two-year degree will lead to a better life.
We need to eliminate the obstacles and create a clear path so individuals can move up the economic ladder to where the promised results materialize.
Although education does not automatically equate to instant success, an abundance of employment opportunities or a secure future, it is definitely a tool that can be utilized.
The ultimate goal of a student is not simply to get an education, but to get the training to be able to secure a high-paying job and a promise of a better future.
There is nothing greater than the thought of being encompassed by a bunch of well-educated Americans that want to make a decent living and support their families, hopefully investing in legacy; being able to leave something behind for their children. In a Socialist economy, poverty, a lack of education do not exist.
I believe it’s about time that this country starts moving in that direction.
So what’s the plan you ask? According to an article from the Huffington Post, The White House announced a proposal that Obama said would make community college “free for everybody who is willing to work for it.”
But administration officials provided no details about the program’s costs or where the money would come to pay for it.
“It’s not just for kids,” Obama said. “We also have to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to constantly train themselves for better jobs, better wages, better benefits.”
The White House did say that if all states participated, that 9 million students could benefit — saving on average $3,800 in tuition per year for a full-time student.
“With no details or information on the cost, this seems more like a talking point than a plan,” said Cory Fritz, press secretary for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
Under the proposal, participating students would be expected to maintain a modest grade-point average and participating schools would have to meet certain academic requirements. States would opt-in to the program and put up a fraction of the funding.
“Put simply, what I’d like to do is to see the first two years of community college free for everybody who is willing to work for it,” the president said.
Every good idea starts with a “good idea” and I definitely believe that this is a plan that can move our country forward. I’m sure there are skeptical naysayers, as every advantage to some may have a possible negative effect on another, but for the greater good and the masses, it sounds like our president may be on to something!Photo by Tribune News Service