Did I strike a nerve with anyone yesterday? I know that many of you have or will have children in the same age bracket as my daughter so you to will be facing these decisions too. How do we encourage our children to be achievers and yet still be in touch with reality… It appears that as a society we have lengthen the time of low expectations and little accountability for our young people. We have taken to referring to college age people as “Kids”? I know we’ve all heard it, so and so is just a “college kid”… As if that would indicate we have a lower expectation of performance from the person in question… Last time I checked, unless the student in question was Doogey Houser (I thru that in for the children of the 80′s among us) a college student would at least be in the 19-25 age bracket. I believe that person would qualify to vote, own a gun and enter into legal contracts, not to mention be of the age to die for his or her country… Sounds like they could be of the age to accept some responsibility and yet many of us call them “Kids”?

 

   I know I’ve diverted from the main point that I wanted to wrap up with today but I guess you’ll just have to humor me… Is it possible that as parents we have gotten away from putting much expectation on our children when they were young? I’ve seen MANY high school students that have not had anything expected of them beyond their school work. Yes, I do appreciate the burden on the them as far as time commitment and homework, etc. However, I believe we do our children a dis-service to give them the old “school is your job” right now speach. Yes, they should be working to do the highest level of work they are capable of but at the same time, they are still a part of a family and need to be contributing to that as well.

 

   I’m sure I’ve tweeked the nose of a few readers by pointing out the fact that their children are capable of doing more then their school work… Don’t mind me this is just one man’s opinion and I struggle with how much to expect from Prepper Juniorette myself. This is more of a side frustration that I deal with! I venture to say that almost all of us had to work during our high school years, that is if we expected to be able to have the luxuries that we thought were important, like the ability to drive, etc.

 

   Anyway, back to the topic of higher education… I realize that there are those individuals and families around us that can and do send their children off to Universities all while paying the bill out of pocket. I would be willing to wager that this is no more than 1-2% of the population. I’ve told you all on several occasions that I know what you all are earning for income. Well, not specifically you but people in general around the State of Washington at least. Most families are earning less than 100K per year. Actually, most families are earning a lot less than 100K… This is gross income not net, so the take home is drastically lower.

 

   My point in bringing this topic up wasn’t really as a way to critique my readers parenting skills and strategies. It was really all coming down to the DEBT issue. As with so many other things that the government has encouraged us all to participate in Higher Education is no different. The government makes it very easy for just about anyone to go in to debt, whoops, I meant to say go to  school.

 

   Look at the campaigns that the government has undertaken to “help” all the good citizens buy homes and achieve the American dream. We see the actual politicians themselves come right out and say that they are going to help everyone buy a home. We see no child left behind implemented at the elementary school level and the trend sticks with us all the way up. Cradle to grave we are encouraged to lean on good ol Uncle Sam for help in reaching our goal… FHA home loans, Sally Mae government backed student loans, I have even begun to hear about government backed commercial loans? Don’t forget the auto industry and banks have come under the wing of good old government… Why are our government leaders so interested in helping my daughter get loans to go to college?

 

   If we ask ourselves these questions and then don’t really take the time to analyse the situation for an answer we’d miss it… They want their citizens in debt. There is no other answer, benevelance is something we as parents might partake in but it isn’t the role or intent of the government. Debt is the tool by which we are controlled. The sooner and deeper the American people are put into debt the easier we are to control. Simply put, debt is the tool by which we submit to their authority.

 

   Just like a boss that watches his employees buying new cars and timeshare condominiums in Mexico, the government knows we’re trapped. We will have no choice but keep working for the rest of our lives to pay off the loan, plus interest, plus more diversions along the way that will undoubtedly have to be put on credit. The cycle is so predictable, yet nothing short of sinister! I’m simply amazed that something so powerful has escaped the sight of 99% of the people.

 

   Higher education is great and I’m not saying it should be avoided. I’m just attempting to point out the fact that we have to be smarter than the system. The “College Experience” is a scam… If your future career is going to require a 4 year degree than by all means go get that degree… Just don’t go into debt to do it! Wait, I know you’re thinking how could a person possibly get the education without going into debt? Good question, since many American now pay for their morning coffee with a credit card. Be creative, start at that community college down the street. Those credits are a 1/4 to 1/3 of the price you pay at that fancy University. I know you’ve been told that the credits won’t transfer but it’s a state school and so are many of the Universities, the credits will transfer. Go look at all the options and shop for that degree as much as you would shop for any other big ticket item! By the time all the costs of the degree are figured in, it may cost more than a modest home would. Be smart and don’t take the easy road of instant gratification and sell out your future for an “Experience”, whether it’s a college experience or any other kind – use your head.

 

   Hopefully, we will all start to wake-up and be more watchful of the tricks the enemy is using to distract us. Yes, many parts of our government should be considered the enemy. No, not an enemy that we would fight in a traditional sense but resisted at every possible chance they can legally be resisted!

 

Have a great weekend and keep your eye’s peeled for creative solutions to everyday problems!

 

 

Prepper