First of all let me start by saying that this organization is seriously overdue. I have taken it upon myself to wrestle with the behemoth known as the US student loan system for some years now.For some reason, we are the only post-industrialized society in the world that forces its nation's college students to a life time of bone crushing debt. This does not happen in Western Europe, Canada, East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, etc. College is entirely subsidized their respective governments and even by many corporations within their countries.

We can 100% subsidize our students' college educations as well. Sounds like a pipe dream?! Well I have done the research. In 2003-2004 according to the U.S. Dept. of Ed's Nat'l Center for Ed. Stats, we (both as consumers and as state and federal governemnts) spent $866 Billion on all levels of education (from Kindergarten to Ph.ds)These figures do not include institutions that confer only bachelor's degrees. 59% off this amount went to K-12, 41% to post-secondary ed. We spent 7.9% of our GDP (@ $11 trillion) on k-12. 3.2% of our GDP is spent on post-secondary ed. That is all!!! Are we to say as a nation can not afford to fund this?!

One more thing, according to the 2002 Dept. of ed. stats, I tallied what as a country we owed then for money from loans already borrowed to fund higher ed.This figure came out to $289 Billion (this was the most exorbitant estimate). Most of it going to fat cats like Sallie Mae, etc.

I believe it is now time to fight for the following objectives:

1) All forms of Post-secondary ed. should be entirely subsidized.

2)All outstanding student loans should be forgiven (let's face it student loan borrowers will not pay their loans--nor should they-- when they see the current college population going to school under fully subsidized means).

3)People who's credit has been destroyed by defaulting on student loans should have their credit restored to good standing.

4) Immediately repeal the draconian restrictions that were placed in the bankruptcy laws that forces people in bankruptcy to pay back the entire amount of the student loans once their seven years is up.

Post-secondary ed. is no longer a luxury-- it is a necessity. At one point in time in our country, secondary ed. was considered a luxury as well . Things change and societies evolve.

Let us move forward.