Introduction Vying with other applicants for a job position is difficult without an adequate college education. The primary problem is the rising cost of pursuing a postsecondary education makes it difficult for students to afford and complete their college degrees. Tuition has doubled three times since 1980 and outpaced the nation’s inflation rate, whereas the student loan debt is at its highest at over $1 trillion (Sobel, 85). That is comparably higher than the rate of credit card debt (Education). Current policies by legislators do not directly address setting tuition rates, but establish the parameters and budget for the boards to follow (Weeden 2015). Your proposed alternative to the current tuition policy, by implementing a tuition free …show more content…
Making tuition free at public colleges and universities, 2. Stopping the federal government from making a profit on student loans (roughly $110 billion), 3. Substantially cutting student loan interest rates to 2006 rates of 2.37%, 4. Allowing Americans to refinance student loans at today’s low interest rates, 5. Allowing students to use need-based financial aid and work-study programs to make college debt-free, and 6. Funding your programs through taxes on Wall Street speculators (It’s Time). In addition to your six-step solution in managing costs for college, promoting loan forgiveness for public service graduates and dual enrollment in college courses for high school students is beneficial in expanding the scope of education to individuals concerned about prices (Education). These points have valid reasons but you must also exercise caution in making an emotional case with not enough sufficient facts and figures. For example, your mention of European countries being able to eliminate tuition costs and past universities in the United States as well did not address the contexts of society that could have provided for such (It’s Time). Other comments such as taxpayers being able to pay for tuition if they could bail out Wall Street is likely to stir quick opposition to your …show more content…
Through a telephone survey of 1,001 individuals, Phi Delta Kappa found roughly 91% of respondents finding a college education important today (Records). While this particular poll did not have a target age group, Harvard University and Reason Rupe had conducted online surveys targeting college age individuals from 18 to 29 years of age (Records). From inquiring 2,089 and 3,058 individuals respectively, 70% made the decision of pursuing college heavily influenced on their financial circumstances and 54% believed the government had a responsibility to allow college education (Records). The best strategy to appeal to voters and their representatives is to address the shortcomings in your policy either through clarification or with modifications. You also stand to gain, or risk losing a lot, if interest groups are not allied with you. As it currently stands, Wall Street elites would oppose being taxed further for funding public universities because it is not a direct concern for them. Capturing the heart of other interest groups would strengthen a policy by utilizing other resources in your political campaign. Compromising may be a signal of weakness, but to come to an agreement and getting things down will outweigh the potential risks. Pressure could be added into breaking stalemates through meetings with the media. As of now, the media does not express much of policy