So we are to congratulate the backers of the latest forgiveness package to come out of Washington, D.C. The college loan get out of debt-free program.

May we first stop to thank and congratulate those people young and not so young who did it the right way and chose carefully how much debt they could handle and then miraculously managed to honor their commitment and pay the debt they owed.

Many did it by starting at less expensive places like Butler County Community College and then moving onto another school. That simple decision can reduce costs of a four year degree by 50%.

Others chose to go a route they considered to be more prestigious and headed straight to the main campus of a major university even though it meant falling deeply in debt.

The government has decided the timing is right to teach these people a lesson. The lesson is don’t be a sucker like your parents and grandparents, don’t let your conscience get in the way of starting a life of dishonesty and failure.

How proud parents are the day their son or daughter stand on the stage with that degree in hand. Hopefully they can look back on that day and say it was earned and paid for.

Unfortunately we are now educating them to find the cheapest easy way out and the easy way to stick it to friends and neighbors by having their tax dollars pay the student debt.

We are a huge advocate for our local colleges and universities. We believe they are a quality product at a great price.

Do some students need loans? Of course they do.

Are the same students capable of making good choices and only borrowing what they can afford to someday payback?

Yes, we see it quite similar to the “starter home “ concept. It would be nice to have a starter home be equivalent to the home you are able to afford in your 50s but you have to diligently earn and save to someday be in that position to own that home.

These lessons we are teaching the lottery winners getting the jackpot tickets to debt forgiveness is only pointing them in the wrong direction.

Can you imagine the stories they will be able to tell the next generation?

There won’t be anymore “I worked my way through school” or” I worked 40 hours and went to night school”proud conversations.

Can’t you hear Grandpa now, “No sir, I’m no sucker; I got my education the old-fashioned way. I let those poor working suckers pay for it through higher taxes while I partied and laughed with my fraternity brothers.”

Woe to us.

— RV