Texsox

We're not a perfect union and have a long way to go to get there. On most of those social issues we're middle of the pack, which is embarrassing at best, and horribly catastrophic at worse. It's sad that we don't see a third group. A group in the middle that believes we are great with an incredible opportunity to be even greater. I'm optimistic things will improve. Biden just signed multiple executive orders that should have been done a year ago that will help and put us on a better trajectory. But I'm certain someone will argue I'm wrong and they won't help, it will just make things worse. From now on I will always balance anything positive with a negative. We're a great nation but we totally failed the people of Flint. We are a beacon of opportunity for many around the world then they will be hit with horrible racism and possibly murdered. We have an incredible constitution and form of government that was almost overthrown in one day, something the Confederate Army couldn't do in years. We have the best interstate highway system anywhere but with drunk drivers and corrupt cops that will kill you. We have a horrible education and health system that bankrupts students and kills the poor. Trump really wanted that fence to keep Americans from moving south to a better country. Yep, we have a ton of problems. More than will be solved in my children's children's lifetime. There are a few countries that would be very nice to move to, but I'll stay here and keep working to improve this one because we have the people and resources to be amazing.

Lol. I forgot to be liberal is to think everything is wrong with this country.

You are easily the most negative unhappy, person I know. If I said what a beautiful day not a cloud in the sky you would argue about how serious skin cancer is.

Really? So if I think we're a great country I'm excusing corruption? Look around the planet. Columbia, Ghana, Somalia. I can't imagine how bad their response must be. So if I believe that I'm excusing our response? No. I'm pointing out that people who live in third world shit holes are really fucked in this. But feel free to disagree, you always do. Again, what country is a better place to live? I'm not telling you to move there, I want to know what country you believe is better than the US to live? If you're going to argue my point when I say we're a damn great country give a straight answer. I'll probably agree with about four or five, but not many more.

So which third world country where corruption is the norm has handled this better? That's specifically what I referenced.

I believe we have one of the greatest countries on the planet. But I'm willing to listen. Where would you rather live? We are doing horribly in our response. It should have been much better on the government side. But I don't think Nigeria or Nicaragua are doing better. We're not a perfect union. Some want to see the very worse in America and believe that is who we really are. I see the good and bad and believe we're greater than just about anyone. Even with our bad points. Sorry if that doesn't fit here.

Agreed. A lot of it is marketing. With pressure to retain the next students instead of having them choose a magnet program or for profit, taxpayer supported, charter schools the public schools need to hit those easy for the public to recognize metrics. For example a charter school in the area bought dozens of billboards in the area to announce 100% College Acceptance!! for their senior class. It was very effective at recruiting students away from public schools. How did they accomplish this amazing feat? Glad you asked. They required every senior to apply at the local college that accepts everyone. The second issue is with all these college grads it means we'll have a more educated society, but not every available job is high paying. We need Amazon warehouse and for now, delivery drivers. They don't even need a high school diploma. My buddy graduated with a master's in architecture in the 80s. No one was hiring when he graduated. He was one of those that were say don't get an art degree or you will work in a restaurant. Only his was architecture.

I didn't see this posted anywhere. Good stuff.

I hope he starts posting so we can tell him he knows nothing about baseball. ?

Which is another problem with the system. There are counseling questions that borrows have to answer but most just click through as fast as possible. One kid told me he thought it was like a software agreement that you just agree without reading. He's probably the majority.

Give any competent teacher a good curriculum and it could be taught at the high school level. I don't have one tenth of your knowledge of economics but I can teach how credit cards work, mortgages, how interest rates are based on risk, etc.

At least in the two school districts I've worked in here in Texas Financial Literacy is taught as an elective. But it's not very popular. Playing the stock market game is fun for a week or two.

I really think it's important to stop claiming the coup was close to being successful. The FBI and later a team of Seals would have put a quick and easy end to this coup. The military wasn't going to take over the country to keep Trump in office. Saying they were close just gives them enthusiasm and peddles the same lies Trump has been spreading. They were close to committing additional murders, they were close to dozens of additional crimes, but they were not close to toppling our elected government and putting Trump in office.

Succeeded at what exactly? If they would have been successful, what would life be like today? A successful Trump coup would mean him being sworn in today. I'm curious how you see that having happened?

Let me give an example. A student is going to college. He completes a FAFSA with his parent's income. He will then receive an offer letter based on his parent's income from the college which will outline what scholarships and financial aid are available to him and what is the expected family contribution. The first level of loan he will take is a subsidized government guaranteed loan. The maximum amount is based on his parent's income. His parents are not asked to cosign and he is solely responsible for repayment. For most students, and most public schools, that is all they will need. But, the government does set limits on how much of a subsidy the family qualifies for, which again is based on family income. The next level is unsubsidized government guaranteed loans, and the student can borrow as much as the university allows and parent's income is not considered. Again, the student is 100% responsible for repayment. No cosigner, no work history, no collateral, no demonstrated ability to repay. At single digit interest. My original point again is, where else can an 18 year old borrow $100,000 at single digit interest rates?

Most of that is covered. I teach some of it actually. The problem is it's all theoretical at this point and when they need it, they've forgotten it. My senior seminar class just did a unit on the relationship between time and money and the difference between spending past money (savings), current money (income), or future money (debt). They worked out scenarios involving the true cost of ownership based on what money you are spending. I doubt they will retain much from that class in five or ten years when they will use it. As taxpayers we're also spending money to teach kids how to wash their clothes, change a tire in their car, unplug a drain, grocery shop, etc. Thank you, I appreciate the salary and all the cool stuff taxpayers provide for me to be mom and dad to 150 kids.

Dude, I literally do this for a living. We're looking at two different things here. Parent's income determines family contribution. This is after all of the aid is subtracted (which is based on family income) As the link you quoted states, loans may be offered to fill that gap. For subsidized government guaranteed loans there are limits based on parents income but parents do not cosign and parents are not responsible to pay it back, the kids are. If you are making the loan the kids ability to pay is the risk. After that the next layer of loans are unsubsidized government guaranteed loans where interest begins with the first disbursement. The parents income has zero bearing on that. And again parents do not cosign. If the kid defaults the lenders do not go after the parents. In the past three months I have reviewed over two dozen aid and student loan packets with kids from all income levels. How many have you done? Parents income will determine how much, if any, money will be owed after scholarships, PELL grants, and other aid. If there is a gap, and there is almost always a gap, there will be loan offers included. Think of the aid portion (based on parent income) as the downpayment. The loan is 100% on the kid to pay for the government guaranteed direct loans. Again, my point walk into a mortgage company at 18 and ask to borrow $100,000 with no money down and without a cosigner. Try an auto loan for $100,000 without a cosigner. Do you think you will get a single digit interest rate? Bottom line parent's income is used to determine how much financial aid the student will receive and then how much in loans will be necessary. It is used to determine how much subsidized money the student can borrow. It is not used to determine how much unsubsidized federally guaranteed money the student can borrow or to mitigate the risk to the lender by cosigning. And it is difficult to look up. As they say it's in the details especially if the student needs to look at private loans as well. There, even with parents cosigning, the interest rates and higher and repayment terms not as generous. Plus any of the loan forgiveness programs do not apply to private loans, just the government direct loans.

So what country would you rather be living in? Whose government is better? If you're looking for a perfect world welll then lmao.

You really have a low opinion of America. So where would you rather be living?

Travel central and south America and you realize how honest our government is. How much did you bribe officials to get your driver's license?

That's for student financial aid which is money they do not have to pay back. The student loan (emphasis student) is on the student to pay. I do this all day long as a high school teacher. These kids receive guaranteed loans in their name that they have to repay. That is different than loans that their parents may take out or Pell Grants and other aid they may receive. There are limits on how much in loans that the government will guarantee. After that students and parents take out private loans to cover the gap. There are two main types of government loans that kids take. Direct subsidized loans where the government will pay the interest while you are in school and for six months after graduation. There are some restrictions based on family income, but the student, not the parents, are responsible for repayment and no co signer is required. The second is direct unsubsidized and interest is added the entire time the student is in school. Their parents income is not considered in awarding these loans. Again, the student is 100% responsible for repayment. Both of these options come at single digit interest rates and no cosigner. The entire risk for the lender is on the student. After that we get into private, non guaranteed loans which those lenders will look at everything and possible have the parents cosign.

Actually, the first set of student loans are not tied to the parent's income. They are on the students, which is why the kids have the debt, not the parents. Parents may also take out private loans and those are based on income. But you're correct, college should be about making yourself more valuable for an employer. Develop some skills that others can use to make themselves more money. Our society just can't support arts and humanities anymore. You don't need a college degree to get a million views.

This public health stuff is difficult. We have a mostly honest government, imagine third world countries where corruption is the norm.

I was reading a NY Times article that quoted one of the rioters who said it's what Cruz would want so it's OK. How are these "patriots" going to react when Trump and Cruz can't protect them from prosecution? Which leads to if Trump is planning a pardon dump he's got about 24 hours to do it.

Where else could an 18 year old kid get a $100,000 loan at single digit interest? That's kind of the balance, make the loans riskier for lenders and the people who do pay will be punished with higher overall interest rates. If there was an easy fix, we'd have done it. I believe there first, tiny step, is offering 15 years of education instead of the current 13. Free associate's degree at community colleges or approved trade/ apprentice/ certificate programs. Each person after graduating from high school receives a $5,000 per year credit to use for job training or college. Use it or lose it might be easier to pass or better is offer a lifetime $10,000 stipend. That way if someone doesn't use it but shifts mid career, it's still there. I'm still not certain about allowing the $5,000 to be applied to a private or elite public university. I'd liked to see them have to accept the $5,000 as full tuition for anyone with less than 60 credit hours.