We all know how bad the economy is right now. Many believe we may be headed for a double-dip recession. The employment picture looks astoundingly bleak. More and more people are losing their homes to foreclosure. To top it all off, both federal and state governments are enacting severe austerity measures which kick the poor and middle class in the teeth...well, what teeth we have left.
One of the many programs that has taken a hit is financial aid for higher education. When you couple these reductions with huge increases for tuition and room and board, the ability to attend college is becoming out-of-reach for more and more Americans.
Since studies have shown for years that college graduates consistently earn more over a working lifetime than non-college graduates, people young and old desperately want to earn a degree. I bet holding a degree also helps somewhat in this tight job market.
So, what are the poor and middle class to do? My guess is that many of them are joining the armed forces primarily for the educational benefits upon discharge PLUS a steady paycheck. Unfortunately, many of these students-in-waiting never get the opportunity to crack open a college text book because they are killed in action.
I don't have any statistics to back up this supposition. I am basing this post solely on the notion that a) the armed forces provide fairly good educational benefits; b) The economy sucks big time; and c) More and more young people can't afford to attend college. So, it seems like a logical AND pitiful conclusion to me.
One of the many programs that has taken a hit is financial aid for higher education. When you couple these reductions with huge increases for tuition and room and board, the ability to attend college is becoming out-of-reach for more and more Americans.
Since studies have shown for years that college graduates consistently earn more over a working lifetime than non-college graduates, people young and old desperately want to earn a degree. I bet holding a degree also helps somewhat in this tight job market.
So, what are the poor and middle class to do? My guess is that many of them are joining the armed forces primarily for the educational benefits upon discharge PLUS a steady paycheck. Unfortunately, many of these students-in-waiting never get the opportunity to crack open a college text book because they are killed in action.
I don't have any statistics to back up this supposition. I am basing this post solely on the notion that a) the armed forces provide fairly good educational benefits; b) The economy sucks big time; and c) More and more young people can't afford to attend college. So, it seems like a logical AND pitiful conclusion to me.
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