Does Good Debt Exist?

No one likes to be in debt - especially Latino students. According to the Los Angeles Times, a recent report shows that they are the least likely to finance their education through student loans. Not me. The report states,"A 2004 study by USC's Tomas Rivera Policy Institute found that 80% of Latino parents and 74% of college-age Latinos did not cite loans as possible sources of financial aid". Unlike some of the students mentioned in the article who attend less expensive school like Cal State Fullerton ($414 for 4 units), being a student at the University of California has a bigger price tag ($4,484 for 4 units). Most students mentioned in the article work to pay off their college tuition while in school. Currently, working to pay off college in full would be virtually impossible. So, I depend on grants, loans, federal work study, academic scholarships, and money from my parents to help me fund the high tuition costs. However, being at a prestigious private institution is one of the prices that one pays to get educated by some of the best professors in the nation.

I am just glad my parents have great credit to co-sign for my student loans. Otherwise, I probably would not be able to attend this great institution that I have called home for the past two years.

I guess I have broken the cycle of “If you can't pay it in cash, then it's not a good idea”. So, yes good debt does exist. No one can put a price tag on my education.

Not an Empire a World Power

Kip Payne is right. America is not an empire. His reference to America being hardly an empire is correct because we are a world power with great influence and strength within the international community. We have made our share of mistakes within international affairs as Payne proudly points out; however, no country is perfect. Nevertheless, we still stand strong and enduring.

Do you have children?

Sen. Barbara Boxer D- Calif. feels that if you do not have children serving in what some people consider the 21st Century’s “New Vietnam War” then you have no right to support the war in Iraq. Radio talk-show host Larry Elder points out Senator Boxer’s rude response to the honorable Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Boxer showed her discontent with Rice’s support for the war. Rice responded to Senator Boxer by informing her that just because she did not have children serving in the war or have a family does not disqualify her from making intelligent decisions about America’s involvement in Iraq. Condoleezza Rice may be able to make informed decisions about U.S. involvement in the war in Iraq; however, Rice would probably expedite the armed services removal from our prolonged stay in Iraq if she had children serving in the war.

I suppose if you do not have children or family members serving in the war you are not “allowed to support the war”. Who gives Senator Boxer the right to say that if one does not have loved ones serving in the war then they have no right supporting the war.

I'm Connected

I just created my first blog website and am excited to embark on a fairly new way of communicating my thoughts on current, past, and future events that take place in our world. Smiles.