LOANS: Feds exceed authority

When it comes to all the wrangling over federal student loan rates, both the Democrats and the GOP have got it all wrong. The debate seems to be revolving around the disaster of allowing the rate for future loans to rise from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, and if it isn’t increased, how is this lost revenue going to be funded?

The real question to be addressed is, should federal funds, taxpayers’ money, be getting used to support citizens’ educational pursuits? Where in the constitution is this permissible? I can answer that question: nowhere.

If you want to go to college, you have many options. Get a scholarship (for the academically gifted), go to a less expensive school (if you can’t afford a prestigious one), get a part-time or full-time job (self-explanatory), obtain a loan from a commercial institution (if you’re qualified), ask your family to fund it (if they can afford to or wish to), etc. Since most aspiring college students are young, this issue can be used as an early life pre-college lesson. They will learn that life ain’t fair and the taxpayers don’t owe you anything. Get used to it.

THOMAS P. HANLEY

Post Falls