NOTEBOOK 7: 2f

Dear Sen. Sanders,

I recently reviewed your 6 step plan to make college tuition free and debt free. If
elected President, your hope is to pursue this course of action. The six steps give a
brief overview of why you feel this policy would work in the US. It might sound good
to those who currently have students loans or are just starting their education and
they just might agree with your ideas, I however, disagree. I dont feel this plan
would benefit our country in the long run. I also feel it is not sustainable and would
have devastating effects for generations to come.
Your first step explains how other counties have adopted free college tuition to
citizens, which, you say is working. It continues with expressing how the US state of
California once offered free tuition until 1980s I cant speak to how other counties
are managing their system or how it will appear in the future but I can say that it is
apparent that California changed to a tuition based system because it was not
sustainable. There was not enough tax base to cover the mounting cost and
eventually reverted back to a tuition system.
The second, third and fourth steps co-mingle on the same lines and continues with
how the Federal Government is making a profit on student loans. A do agree that a
profit it being made justly or not. I also agree that the re-payment interest rate
being charged is not in balance and should be lowered as you do however, there
has to be a compromise to what that rate should be. The Federal Government needs
to make a profit however, how the profit filters back into the system is what should
be looked at. The third plan is to lower interest rates, this again, I agree with. Your
system helps current student loan re-payment but once those loans are paid, what
then? Your plan calls for Free Tuition, which would be a new generation of students.
If the current profits are re-appropriated, what then will come of the needs once
there is no longer a means to support?
You state that students should not be penalized by what their parents income are, I
agree, however, once again you want Free Tuition. This would no longer be an issue
for future students. As implied in your steps 2 and 3 the current students loans
would still be required repayment and such, parent income is no longer an issue.
In step 5, the off-set cost of living for room and board, text books, transportation
and other living expense are still cost that will incur debt. Your suggestion is to have
a government financial aid program that students can get a loan for (at of course, a
low interest rate) but doesnt this defeat the purpose? Tuition is relatively the
lowest cost to going to school. So these loans that students will, will essentially be
the same cost less tuition. Im not seeing the savings here.
Lastly, step 6 explains how imposing a tax on Wall Street to pay for the tuition short
fall seems like a great idea however, it is hinges on the economic weather of the

market. I partially agree with your statement that if the taxpayers of this country
could bailout Wall Street in 2008, we can make them pay for college tuition. The
idea of taxation is grand, the only problem is that its not sustainable. Lets face the
fact that at most, a president term is 8 years. That provides a trial run for a student
to start the path to become a doctor (which is 8-10 years of school), just to have an
administration change, change your plan. Where does that leave this student, in
jeopardy?
Mr. Sanders, I think your direction is worthy of discussion, I just dont feel it has a
long future with the US economic system and free market.

Thank you for your time,

SLCC Student