Define the problem When it comes to higher education in the United States, inequalities often result in the poor not receiving the same opportunity to succeed as the rich—according to Elana Berkowitz and John Burton of Wire- Tap Magazine, 84% of Black students owe money to student loans, as well as 66% of Latino students and about 39% of all students who borrow money for college have unmanageable problems paying for their debts. The wealthy will be able to afford college with savings and investments while the poor have to struggle for paying for their education with private loans with high interest rates and unfair government loans. Tuition costs are skyrocketing while real incomes have remained stagnant. Aid programs based on financial need continue to decrease. Students borrow money and then face unmanageable debts when they finish college.

Since the creation of the United States Department of Education since 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, the U.S Congress has tried to abolish the free education system, K-12, and constantly created legislation that resulted in budget cuts in the billions for higher education. In order to resolve our problems of poverty, the workforce, and health care, the government needs to increase spending on education. The

U. S Congress decisions insinuate that the government does not have the responsibility of paying for higher education; it is the parent’s responsibility to support their children’s education. The increase of tuition has tripled within the last 10 years and federal school grants have remained stable; budget cuts have cut roughly 50 billion dollars out of the education system during the past years. Not enough efforts have been made to increase the budget of education; instead, Washington cut billions of dollars from the general government educational funding. Today, college education is business rather than an institution for higher learning; private corporations with high interest loans have invaded American lives.

College education is an investment for American society to prosper in economic orders as well as political. The problem is that almost every college graduate has to repay $19,000 – $100,000 in college loan debts. Looking at the current job market for college graduates, the average salary has dropped dramatically within the last couple of years. Students end up paying 25% of their earnings to student loans and other loans obtained during his or her college experience. Students have limited choices for owning a house, their marriage lifestyle, vacations and dining out.

College graduates usually seem unable to Manage the debts created by school loans and the government system. The college education system became a business rather than an institution which guarantees a good workforce.

The average college graduate with a Bachelor degree makes a earning of less than $20,000. Young Americans go to college hoping for better a position in a job market and possibly a higher salary earning. Instead, young Americans are getting obtained large amounts of debts before they even finish college.

Making college affordable or even better, free, would encourage young Americans to attend college or higher institutions of learning.

After graduation, many students find jobs near or in major cities where the job market is hot and rent prices consume 30 to 50 percent of their total income because of high rent control prices situated near good job markets. Several years back, the job market for the college graduate between the ages of 22 and 30 declined significantly by 3.5 percent—college graduates oftentimes end up with jobs at fast food restaurants, department stores, and minimum wages jobs that are unpromising.

College students also face the crisis of debt from credit card bills after college. The average college student accumulates a debt of over 5000 dollars from credit cards. Over 70% of school supplies, food and luxuries are spent on credit cards during college; student are facing more debts and unmanageable financial situations, which can lead to the collapse of American economic prosperity and discourage higher education because it has a high cost and offers less opportunities than promised.

25 years ago, the Pell grant covered about 77% of college expenses; today, only 40% is covered by Pell grants and the remaining 60% comes from loans—only a few percentage parents fully pay for their children’s college fees. 18 years old students are now forced to borrow thousands of dollars to pay for higher education either though a private loan or government guaranteed loans with high loan interest rates. In any case, students should not have to borrow money for higher education or be forced to get loans with interest at such a young age. Students believe higher education leads to higher salaries, but more education actually also means more loans and more debt; debt excesses over $100,000 to some people who graduated from the nation’s best Universities like Harvard or Yale. It is crucial for the government to offer some form of free higher education program. Nearly 38% of college graduates get into the fields of teaching, and teacher salaries are unable to pay for college debt and a comfortable lifestyle.

Literature review According to the Project on Student Debt, nearly 8% of graduating seniors have a debt that is over $40,000 or more: “Public Interest Research Group’s Higher Education Project states nearly quarter of four year public school graduates and 38% of public school graduates who become teachers can’t afford to repay their teacher Debts on a starting teacher’s salary.” PIRG states statistics for social workers were worse: “37% of public and 55% of private school graduates start their careers with unmanageable debt.” According to USA today, “College costs have risen by more than 50% since 1990, but federal aid hasn’t kept up. Congress hasn’t increased the Pell Grant, the most common form of direct aid for low income students, since

2004. (The maximum Pell Grant is $4,050 a year.)

The Federal government has no constitutional authority to be involved in school curricula or to control jobs in the market place. This is why we will abolish the Department of Education." According to MSN Money, “even if you graduate with the average level of education debt – about 18000 – you may be jeopardizing your finances.

Many newly minted graduates find their loan payments are so big that they can’t save for other goals, such as a house or retirement.” According to Money Magazine, “two thirds of students borrow to pay for college. One in 10 has loans of $35000 or more.” Many believe than a higher education would solve the unemployment problem in the United States and help it regain its competitive edge in international trade.” (Public Perspectives and Choices Policy; page 303) Americans agree that providing a quality education is one of the most important items on the public policy agenda (page 304). “Functionalism holds the view that society can exist in harmony because its institutions spring from shared culture.

Consequently, the family, the educational system, and the economy, among other institutions, perform specific “functions” necessary for the survival of society (page

304) .

Studies have shown that an individual with more education is more knowledgeable to do work than someone with poor education. There is a positive chance for higher education, which brings us promise of higher salary with higher education.

Higher education, furthermore, leads to more debts and debts lead to slavery; where the individual does not get the opportunity in life because he or she has to pay off debt for a long period of time. For years, the government has sponsored the public school system, K-12, from federal, state, and local raised tax subsidies. College education creates inequalities when the government does not fully provide for the costs. Students or parents, additionally, are forced to pay for a college education, even if the loan is over $30,000.

The human capital theory states that educations help provide the skills for jobs in a work field such as reading, writing and problem solving. The Marginal Productivity theory states that a company is only willing to adequately pay its workers if the company makes sufficient money from the employee work. Children from marginalized groups and impoverished regions are at a disadvantage because they do not receive the same education as the children from wealthier families. Education is looked upon as an economic force and investment for the nation’s prosperity: “Highly skilled jobs are moving overseas, including jobs for computer software engineers, architects, radiologist, and financial analysts” (page 313); “In October 2000, some 3.8 million young adults were not enrolled in a high school Program and had not completed high school.

These youths accounted for 10.9 percent of the 34.6 million 16- through 24-year-olds in the United States in 2000 In 2000, the status dropout rate for Asian/Pacific Islander young adults was lower than for young adults from all other racial/ethnic groups. The status rate for Asian/Pacific Islanders was 3.8 percent compared with 27.8 percent for Hispanics,

13. 1 percent for Blacks, and 6.9 percent for Whites” (Table 3); “In 2000, 44.2 percent of Hispanic young adults born outside of the United States were high school dropouts” (National center for education statistics). New York, for example, reports that 76 percent of its high school student’s graduate, but independent researchers calculate that the actual figure could be as low as 58 percent. The disagreement is even higher in California, which says 87 percent of its students graduate, while independent researchers say as little as 65 percent actually graduate. The School library journal states “if an unfriendly foreign power had attempted to impose on America the mediocre educational performance that exists today, we might well have viewed it as an act of war” 20 find source on book (page

314) .

At the time of the American Revolution, education was a family responsibility. Thomas Jefferson thought that in order for the democracy system to succeed in the future, the nation must invest in the education system for the youth to carry on our nation’s prosperity.

Jefferson wrote “if a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” Saul Padover demanded the same of the

U. S as Jefferson, in terms of the education system thriving: “Democracy cannot long exist without enlightened citizens, democracy cannot function without wise and honest officials, talent and virtue, critical to a free society […] should be educated regardless of accident of birth and wealth, and the children of the poor must be educated at common expense. Despite the promise of American education, the system looking over it was organized in such a way that it acted as an overwhelmingly powerful mechanism for preserving and promoting racial and social class segregation. Today, its effects are so pervasive that probably no other public policies or government actions are as important in preserving inequality from one generation to the next” (page 316); “One study suggests that the drop in SAT scores may explain the decline in productivity rate in the labor force over the past two decades.” 38 Collect evidence Jimmy Johnson, a junior at USC studying political science, has a loan and credit card debt of over $60,000. He plans on staying at USC for the next two years to finish and graduate with a loan and credit card debt of roughly $100,000. He also realizes that the monthly payment of his residence will consume 25% of his earnings. Furthermore, Jimmy knew that getting a job immediately after graduation might not be that simple, and his salary might be low since he only has his Bachelor degree.

Amy Cho, who is my next door neighbor, states she is still paying for her college loan and it is driving her insane because she has been paying it off for the last 15 years. Amy went to New York University, even though she was from born and raised in California.

Amy states it is unfair for college students to be forced to obtain loans and be subject to huge debt, which paying off could last over 30 years. Amy still struggles to own A business and home. She never married nor had children because she was making little and paying many payments to end her debt. Amy nearly managed not to be able to care for her health because she does not have health coverage, the average doctor visit amounts to over $100, and does not enjoy her life because of debts from college.

In addition, she has had to borrow money from family and her elderly parents cannot depend on her for assistance of their retirement.

I spoke to a PHD professor at Los Angeles City College; his name is Dr Eckford, who is the director of Transfer Alliance Program and History instructor who has been advocating free education for the result of more effective leaders. Dr. Eckford told me he has a debt of over $200,000 from private college loans with unfair interest rates. He owes to the government for student loans when he was obtaining his BA, MA, and PHD. Dr. Eckford told me he managed to pay the debt on time, but it denied him an “enjoyable life after he got out of college.” Dr. Eckford told me having to marriage at a young age after college was “very hard on us, when we were raising our kids and had to deal with many payments.” Not to mention, in addition, saving for his children’s college education, so they “would not suffer as we did.” He states that the debt creates a form of slavery and every American who goes to college has some source of debt because of higher education. The endeavor for multiple degrees forces students as young as 18 to get private loans that end up being unmanageable.

More education, unfortunately, means more debt.

Angel Coffin, who went to UCLA say she is very fortune to go to school in a public system as UCLA, which is known to be one of the best universities with the one of the lowest tuitions. Angel Coffin told me she received a free education from the UC system, by applying to grants and scholarships.

She said “the school gave me a free ride and the best damn education.” Today, she is working with a life of luxury and enjoys vacationing, owning a new car and a new home. She told me she is looking for someone to start a family. She is grateful she received a free education even when she pursued her Master degree at UCLA.

She said she made roughly over six digits and has an enjoyable life without any college debt. Angel said there are plenty of scholarships out there but “you just got to search and keep up your GPA.” Education should be the expense of the government, because they are investing in the nation’s future leaders and investing in a better economic system which will create a better workforce; and thus resolve the inequalities and create equality between the opportunities for the poor and rich. Everybody should be given a fair chance for a free higher education in order to succeed in life.

Describe the system in which the problem arises The system in which my problem arises is the education system, and in particular the lack of government support and corporations finding ways to generate profits by offering loans with interest to students.

Many students and parents are forced to take out private and government loans with interest.

The loan amount can reach amounts of over $20,000 – $100,000 depending on the college the student decides to go.

Since 1979, the year of the formation of Department of Education, society has been engaged in investing in future for the better of our children. Years after the formation of the Department of Education, budget cuts and cut-back spending on education has devastated the system—the higher education system is failing in the United States because it is not free. Similarly, students in K-12 are beginning to fail the standardized test system, which the government created.

There are more high school drop-outs and those not prepared to succeed financially and in terms of text book knowledge in the higher education system in America.

We have to recruit foreign international students for our higher learning society in order to raise our national test scores in math and science. More and more college graduates are facing issues were college life is too expensive, taking in mind loans with interest from private interest groups and bank lenders. More and more college students are not receiving the benefit of a higher education because the financial burden is unmanageable. College students today are under debt and it lasts for over 30 years sometimes for some people.

We can spend billions of dollars fixing the problem of poverty, unemployment, crime control, economics, and political structure, but if we do not invest in our future education for our children, people from other countries where education is free will have an edge. If we truly believe that people in America should be top in their economic games and political orders, it is wise to invest fully in the Education Department and even expanding the department into more agencies.

A foreign exchange student, Peter Pijn, told me when he lived in Europe during the 1990s, the government gave everyone an equal opportunity for a free higher education.

In addition, he said he felt good paying taxes to the government because “my kids get a free education,” possibly all the way through the obtainment of their Master degree.

Propose public policy options Education is an investment for the countries; any country that invested in the education of the nation’s children has a good economic system as well as revolving political system. It is unnecessary to abolish the Department of Education, but instead the most effective public policy would be to add an amendment to our Constitutional rights guaranteeing a free education. It is necessary to form a Constitutional right guaranteeing every citizen the right for a free high learning education, provided by the government without need to seek loans. We need to not decrease the budget of education but instead make an effort to make it number one on our nation’s agenda when it comes to discuss or debate in Congress.

A more effective, free, higher learning education system will support reform for health care, poverty, the workforce, caused economic prosperity and change the political structure for the better of the future. College students and graduates should be given guarantees from the government to pay off their loans while in college if the student successfully graduates on time. The Pell grant should increase to fully support individual students with tuition and other college fees. More federal and states’ grants should be offered to students who are in need of financial support. Higher education should be given equal opportunity to everyone who wants to succeed; an individual’s education should not be based by his or her race, sex, or ethnicity or how rich they are. Education would lead equalities amongst all; where intellect will be the merit of an individual. Everyone in society should be given a chance for equal opportunity in life.

Select the best policy option The best public policy would be to make a United States Constitutional Amendment guaranteeing every citizen the right to a free education up to any degree. If the education system is not reformed, the United States will lag behind and not produce the renowned intellects of the day. An education system that is not reformed will ultimately lead to the collapse of the economic system and a weakening political system because of a lack of an educated public. The debts created by loans are unnecessary because those striving to improve the conditions in the United States should not be hindered by the ideal that parents should be responsible for their children’s education. With a guaranteed, free higher education promise, the education system would develop better technology, our economic system will prosper like never before, and people from other regions of the world will have an advantage because their leaders invested in their country’s education system. Free education would place the United States on the forefront of an ideal society.