Comparing Notes

What have you, dear readers, been doing to help the cause?

I don't mean to sound like a task master, and I know that you are not my pupils. But let me share my activities with you. I hope we can compare notes.

For the Forgive Student Loan Debt Movement I have done the following:

1) Talked to Jim Sano - he helped to pass the resolution in Albany to ask Washington to forgive student loan debt. (Guess what! I beat the NYT in reporting this article. I may be small, but I am the little train that can and will!).
2) I've written to other politicians (I will be posting a letter shortly which I wrote to Sen. Dick Durbin).
3) I've contacted reporters and asked them why they're failing to reveal important information about "organizations" like the College Board (who settled a while back for kickbacks they were given to directors of financial aid). 
4) I've set up an interview with Mark Kantrowitz .

5) I've written several pitches to Kojo Nnamdi,  Ira Glass , Kai Ryssdal promoting Applebaum's movement. (Goooo Rob!).
6) I'm going to canvas for Delegate David Poisson (32nd district, Loudon County, VA) - he is very sympathetic to this movement. He holds a J.D. and a Ph.D. (and several master's, I believe. One thing is certain, he's ahead of me when it comes to collecting advanced degrees, and I'm a pro.).
7) I'm speaking to a reporter for the local NPR station in D.C. this coming Friday (WAMU) - for locals in D.C., we know that as good ol' 88.5 (stay tuned!).
8) I'm crafting arguments against articles on their comment sections and in my blog that claimed - based upon that dastardly survey that Sallie Mae manufactured and then spread to major news sources - students and their families are "borrowing less." (Tim Ranzetta has a GREAT counter response to that here). SHAME ON YOU MAINSTREAM PRESS!

I hope this list may give you an idea of how to think of strategic ways in getting this movement into public discourse. Thanks again for all of your support!

Open Question to Mr. Jacques Steinberg and the NYT: Why are my comments still awaiting moderation?

I posted two comments on the article here about Jim Sano and the Albany City Council asking Washington to forgive student loans. Here's my first comment, which I wrote on August 21st at at 11:20 PM:

I hope everyone here will take the time to visit my blog. I’m learning some very important information about the Dept. of Education (DOE) and its relationship to lenders. I realize that health care reform is a critical issue. Like many of you, I am following that debate too. However, I see the predatory student lending issues and the way in which students at for-profit universities, tech schools, community colleges, and universities are being grossly misled. (I have news folks, I think there is a likelihood that incidences civil fraud will most likely come to light ). This situation, crisis rather, is related to broader issues that are connected to our concepts of community and how we understand our role in this democratic and capitalistic society. I will be clear: I believe that we owe it to people (NOT banks) to help them get back into the system. I’m not just referring to those who have defaulted, but students who have graduated and are living paycheck-to-paycheck with their money going straight to lenders, making it impossible for them to play a role in stimulating the economy (they can’t buy homes, they can’t buy cars, i.e., “big ticket” items that serve to bolster this consumer-based system).

I invite those who support the movement for which I am an advocate, member, and promotional writer to read Robert Applebaum’s Forgive Student Loan Debt proposal here: http://www.forgivestudentloandebt.com/

Here’s the address to my blog again, too: http://alleducationmatters.blogspot.com/

I’ve reached out to city, state, and national politicians about the student lending crisis. Some have reached out, and I’ve even had a few telephone conversations as a result. But the important ones have remained silent. So far . . . (Obama should be open to this idea. After all, if he hadn’t written his first book, he and his wife would still be in debt! We’re talking about THE president of the United States. Doesn’t that seem a bit absurd?)

I am officially (is that possible if you’ve named yourself as such? haha) one of THE watchdogs calling those responsible OUT for this disastrous, predatory, and corrupt system. I am intent pushing Congress to reform the student lending industry dramatically in order to ensure that those children who wish to obtain advanced degrees won’t find themselves, after being handed their degrees, imprisoned and financially shackled by Nelnet, Sallie Mae, etc. like us - we are a new class, the indentured educated class. This country exemplifies the success of a middle class and its dynamism, but that group of people, with all of its spontaneity, may very well vanish. As I see it, the middle class is presently an endangered species.

This idea - student loan debt forgiveness - is revolutionary. That word makes people nervous.

Rest assured, I am a reasonable, even affable person (I love America and dogs!), so one of the reasons I promote Applebaum’s proposal is because its flexible. We’re more than willing to bend, as long as we get something dramatic in return.

Here’s my final thought: things are not working well now. The student lending industry has NEVER been regulated. I say, why not give this proposal a shot? What do we have to lose? Why NOT regulate this industry that’s squelching those who need to be protected? Maybe it will fail. Fine. It can be changed.

Fact of the matter is: the DOE has THE power NOW to change things. There are acts that allow Duncan to CHANGE the way these things are run at this moment. However, he doesn’t seem to be aware of his power. Plus, the DOE is filled with types who worked in the student lending industry. When they left, they went to the DOE. That seems troubling to me.

Anyhow, thanks for your time, and I hope to earn more followers to get my blog more attention. But more than that, I hope to get this off the internet and into actual public discourse (the Hill is the top target).

My blog address again is here.

I'll admit, it's a long post. But there are visible posts from others who are just as long as this one. Moreover, I added another one that was just a few sentences. It was in response to a person name "Reality for All."

Last night at 8:58 PM I wrote:

Hey, “Reality for All,”

Instead of posting anonymously, why don’t you reveal your name. I guess it’s easier to be rude and hide behind a fake name. That way you can be presumptuous and rude.

That comment is ALSO "awaiting moderation." I am at a loss to understand why they have not added my comments. I said nothing violent. I said nothing hateful. So, why are my comments "awaiting moderation?" I should also note that there are comments that were added by other readers and surround my comments that are "still awaiting moderation."

I also wrote to Mr. Steinberg through a form email at the NYT. I asked him why my comments were still awaiting moderation. If anyone has a direct email for him, please let me know. Thanks!

With that said, do you, dear readers, have any thoughts? I'm just curious about the delay. That's all.

Quick Notes - City of Albany Proposing Student Loan Forgiveness

The City of Albany is proposing student loan forgiveness. Albany Councilman and Chair of the Finance Committee, Jim Sano, learned about the student loan debt movement(s) from his daughter. Mr. Sano states, "I was forwarded an article by my daughter Kathryn in regard to using student loan forgiveness as an economic stimulus tool. I have since used my position as an elected official to introduce a resolution to advocate using student loan forgiveness as an economic stimulus tool."

Education Matters will continue to monitor the developments of this legislation.