Student loan rates set to double; Congress keeps playing politics instead of doing its job

Congress has developed quite a reputation for leaving issues of importance to the last minute. The issue of student loan rates apparently will be no different. If Congress does not act before Saturday, the interest rate on student loans is set to double. This rate will affect more than seven million college student loan borrowers, raising their payments by approximately $1,000 per year. During a time when college graduates are finding it difficult to find jobs, it seems that increasing their debt would only add to the difficulties they are currently facing. President Obama has repeatedly encouraged Congress to take the steps necessary to prevent student loan rates from doubling on July 1.

It appears that a showdown is yet once again under way in Washington. With a Congress that has the lowest approval ratings since approval ratings have been recorded, it would seem to make sense that Congress would step up and earn some respect from voters. But that is not their intention. Instead, they plan to do what they are notoriously famous for doing- procrastinating, playing politics with people's lives and putting decisions off until the last minute.

Anti-bipartisanship in Washington has become the expected outcome on any issue that comes before our elected officials. Regardless of the issue, they have decided to fight against the better good of the people and toy with the emotions of voting Americans. It seems that all it takes for a battle to ensue is for one party to take a stand on an issue. That is the moment the games begin. It is like a whistle being blown to begin a race. Everyone digs in and pulls political stunt after political stunt.

The American people are frustrated, discouraged and rapidly losing faith in our leadership. It seems that although both parties agree they want to lower the interest rates for student loans, the games will continue to be played. According to WBEZ.org, “A big chunk of that disapproval is aimed at the GOP: In some polls, Republicans hit as high as 77 percent disapproval all by themselves. The Democrats average about 60 percent disapproval, indicating that Americans are passing the blame around. That’s no surprise given the acrimony and the vile partisanship of this particular Congress – and, more importantly, its inability to get anything concrete done. Just look through the congressional record for the astounding number of bills passed, particularly by the House, that have gone nowhere, and the astounding number of bills referred to committee, such as the Individual Liberty Act, that are pure posturing, with absolutely no possibility of going anywhere. (The ILA is just one of dozens of bills aimed at repealing or defunding or lethally crippling the Affordable Care Act.)”

The voices of seven million college students that will be affected by the increased interest rate, along with their families and friends should carry some weight with the politicians in Washington. Apparently that is simply not the case anymore. It seems that infighting is the priority to the people we put in our nation’s capital to make decisions and run our nation. We sent them to Washington to do a job, it is time they get it done.

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SOURCES:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-congress-deadline-20120627,0,7023896.story

http://ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2012062625/conservatives-students-drop-dead

http://www.wbez.org/blogs/achy-obejas/2012-05/congressional-approval-rating-drops-and-little-wonder-99613