Kiehne Ignores Constitution

Emil J. Kiehne, in his denouncement of the federal government funding student loans ("Other People's Money," signed piece, Apr. 18, 1995), contends that it is unconstitutional for the federal government to give out student loans. The United States Congress has the authority to appropriate funds for any purpose it wishes, whether it be abortions, the space program or supercolliders. There is an elasticity clause in the Constitution which permits the Congress to do this.

Furthermore, in this day and age, a college education is a right. In today's technologically advanced, in which employees need computer skills for nearly every type of job, a person without a college education will not go very far. Giving student loans is not necessary for the wealthiest of citizens, but it can be the deciding factor for middle class and lower income students, who may be just as smart as any Harvard student but simply cannot afford $28,000 a year. Given this, student loans, by enabling many more students to attend college to gain the skills needed in today's job market, increase the nation's economic competitiveness. Thomas Jefferson said a democracy cannot remain a democracy if its voting citizens aren't educated. Thus, 200 years ago public schooling was initiated. Fifty years ago, to survive economically, all someone needed was a high school education. But that was when blue collar, manufacturing jobs were prevalent.

Now that many of those jobs have gone oversees, it is absolutely imperative for someone to have at least an undergraduate college education to remain economically viable. The same is true for the entire country, and thus it is in the best interest of the federal government to continue funding, at least somewhat, college educations. If someone is concerned about Harvard giving up its sovereignty, such as in the case of ROTC, that is a small price to pay for giving all applicants a chance to attend an Ivy League school. Marriah Star '98