Page A4
May 28. 2008
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O pinion
Families Need the Help
Support college-aid legislation
J udge G reg M athis
W ith the econom y in a
tailspin and record home-
foreclosure rates d o m i­
nating the news, A m eri­
can fam ilies are finding it
difficult to finance their
children’s college education. M aking
matters worse, tuition is clim bing at
most universities, w hile financial-aid
options for students are decreasing. It
seems these financial obstacles may
very well put college dream s, at least
tem porarily, on hold for many young
people.
Since African A m ericans attend col­
lege on a whole at a low er rates than
whites it is safe to assum e the current
econom ic crisis will dispro­
portionately affect the fu­
tures o f our young people.
We don’t have to sit idly
by and watch young dream s
crumble. Policym akers are
pushing legislation that can
help students pay for col­
lege. We should support
their efforts.
If a student doesn’t re­
ceive a full scholarship or
grant package, fam ilies typically have
to borrow to funds to pay for their
education. Because college freshman
can ’t borrow more than $3,500 in fed­
eral loans, their parents often have to
borrow funds to pay for educational
expenses.
Under the federal loan program for
parents, families may borrow up to the
total am ount o f college costs and the
loan is secured by the governm ent.
However, it will be more difficult to
parents to secure such loans.
A home foreclosure m akes families
ineligible for such loans. A dditionally,
with millions o f A m ericans losing their
by
Outrageous Terrorism Rankings
Get ready for a
bombshell
by J im H ightower
Once again, the Department of Home­
land Security is showing why it’s worth
the mega-billions of tax dollars we pour
into it. DHS has funded an academic study
to determine which U.S. cities are most
vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
O f the 132 urban areas analyzed, which
one do you think is numero uno in terms
of danger? Washington, D.C.? No. New
York City? Uh-uh. L. A.? Not even close.
Get ready for a bombshell: It's Boise,
Idaho.
Yes, bucolic Boise - with 200,(XX)easy­
going residents, a western outdoorsy
ambience, and a skyline that tops out at 20
stories. As the director of The Boise
visitor’s bureau put it: "Is this a typo or
what?’’
The W ashington Post reports that
the study is the product o f four years of
work by three professors using a series
of mathematical formulas. The research­
ers exam ined not whether Osam a bin
Laden and his al Q aeda allies would
want to attack a particularcity, but rather,
if they did, how well the place could
w ithstand the attack.
Geophysical hazards ranked high in the
professors’ formulations, so Boise’s vul­
nerability to wildfires and Hoods appar­
ently that earned it the top ranking. Just
light one match, said the lead professor,
"and you’re all set.”
O f course, since this is a DHS product,
the rankings were conveniently color-
coded - green for the least vulnerable,
yellow for those at middling risk, and on
up to red for well, for Boise.
Still, locals are puzzled by their sudden
star turn in the national security game.
Indeed, a sales person down at the Fancy
Pants boutique said, "I’m less scared
than I am confused."
Well, yeah, and i magi ne ho w confused
folks are in New York and Washington!
Meanwhile, our stalwarts at DHS are
not saying how much money this terror­
ism study cost us taxpayers. I’m sure
they think that information would aid the
terrorists.
Jim Hightower is an award-winning
national columnist.
hom es under the current mortgage
crisis, a vehicle historically used to
pay for education - a home - is be­
com ing increasing unavailable.
Lenders are feeling the pressure
too. A recent survey revealed that
many private colleges have stopped
offering private student loans, making
it even more difficult for students to
finance their education.
There is hope, however. Sen. Ted
Kennedy, D-Mass., recently introduced
legislation that w ouldexpandeligibility
for and increase borrowing limits for
federal loans. With the current ob­
stacles, families need all the help they
can get to finance higher education.
It is a must to have a college educa­
We don’t have to
sit idly by and
watch young
dreams crumble.
_______________ ■
tion in today’s society. The U.S. is
losing jobs to foreign com petitors who
can perform the work cheaper. New
jobs are scarce and com petition for
those that are available is competitive.
To stay ahead o f the pack, jo b seek­
ers must get as much education and
training as they can. Legislators need to
support Sen. Kennedy . As a collective,
we can contact our local policymakers
and encourage them to pass this im por­
tant law.
Judge Greg Mathis is national vice
president o f Rainbow PUSH and a
national board member o f the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference.
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