A Sign of the "Times"

This week’s New York Times had some articles in it that really demonstrated a few ways in which the economy is affecting our country and really hit home with me.
Monday- Today I read an article that really troubled me about how the Obama administration has a plan to end the subsidized loan programs for college students and redirect the money to scholarships for needy students. While the intentions of this plan are obviously good, it really worries me since I receive both unsubsidized and subsidized loans and without them I don’t know if I could afford to go to school. I am sure there are many other students like myself who also need these loans to go to school, and I feel as though this plan will merely hurt middle class students, who are already given far less money than most actually need, even more.
This plan, which would make spending on Pell government grants necessary, is also just another example, many critics of the plan say, of the Obama administration’s desire to expand government. This also worries me, as this was one of the things I did not like about Obama’s plans for running this country.
Tuesday- Today I read a story about how the two major labor federations have decided to work together with the Obama administration to try and reform the immigrations system. The current plan for this reform includes legalizing the status of illegal immigrants already working in the U.S. and opposes any new programs that would allow employers to bring in new immigrants to work temporarily. While I am not sure if I agree with automatically legalizing the status of illegal immigrants already in the country, I do think this is a good step in the right direction. Our country was built by immigrants, and they are obviously an important part of our country’s culture, but I do think that our government has been far too lax in the way it deals with illegal immigrants. I believe that while anyone who wants to live here should be able to, they should do so legally and not take advantage of our great country and all of its benefits. It is not fair that illegal immigrants can come in and work without paying taxes- it hurts those people that are living in this country.
Wednesday- Today I read a story about another way the economy is affecting people in the U.S. The story I read was on the front page of the Times and talked about how many students are giving up music and other artistic pathes in life in order to pursue a more practical job that will be more likely to earn them money. The story focused on a young girl from Newark, Ohio, who is at the top of her class and a very talented violinist, but who instead of following her dream of going away to school for four years and becoming a music teacher, is working at Sonic and thinking about taking a two-year nursing program at a local tech school. While this is a perfectly fine path to follow in life and will certainly help her to be successful, I think it is really sad that students feel they must give up music and other artistic dreams in order to survive in this economy.
It also made me think about my high school, where the music and art programs were always the last to be given funds. My high school spent $10 million on a new football stadium and gives almost nothing to the music department. The music parents have had to create a committee to raise money for almost everything the department needs. This is just another very sad sign of the times.
Thursday- Today I read a story about how many colleges are asking for more help from donors in order to meet the financial aid that incoming students will need. With more and more students applying to colleges, especially state schools in an attempt to save money, and more and more of these students in need of financial aid, many schools are finding it very hard to keep up. This story really made me realize just how hard the economy is hitting students and schools. Sometimes I think that being at school, I am kind of isolated and don’t realize just how bad the economy is. I don’t know what gas prices are, or grocery prices are when I am at school- I take the bus or walk and eat in the dining hall. To me, everything just seems free. But this article really made me open my eyes to the kinds of problems schools and students like me are currently facing because of the economy.