As we began researching the evil Student Loan Forgiveness Program, or PSLF, we were all spun up. Why should Student Loans be forgiven? Why aren’t these student borrowers expected to pay back their debts like the rest of America? Who’s paying for that?
After digging and reading and digging, it doesn’t appear that the program is actually the liberal giveaway it was portrayed to be. Turns out not all students qualify. You must serve our Nation for 10 years. You also need to have made 120 payments on your loan(s) to qualify.
“Any U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government agency is considered a government employer for the PSLF Program. This includes employers such as the U.S. military, public elementary and secondary schools, public colleges and universities, public child and family service agencies, and special governmental districts (including entities such as public transportation, water, bridge district, or housing authorities).”
This means that we, the people, are helping our Teachers, Public Servants, and Military to get an education and payoff their debt. (Maybe we should take our own advice and read up on a topic before the sensationalist news gets us angry about it.)
Thomas Jefferson is credited with saying that, “an educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” And Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying that, “a government should do for its citizens, that what they cannot reasonably do for themselves.”
Educating our people is a good thing. Motivating citizens to serve our country benefits us all. If the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program helps motivate good people to serve, maybe its an investment worth making. What do you think?
Reading and Resource Recommendations:
https://www.ed.gov/category/subject/student-loan-programs
https://www.whitehouse.gov/publicserviceloanforgiveness/
https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
Avlon, John P. Lincoln and the Fight for Peace. Simon & Schuster, 2022.
Guelzo, Allen C. Mr. Lincoln: The Life of Abraham Lincoln. Chantilly, VA: Published by the Great Courses, 2005.
Meacham, Jon. And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle. New York: Random House, 2022.
Thomson, Sarah L., and Jon Meacham. Thomas Jefferson: President and Philosopher. New York: Random House Children’s, 2016.
