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Great efforts are underway to tackle the Federal deficit by the White House and Congress; there is no realization of the still greater security threat for our country’s future. Student loan debt is fast rising and will soon touch a trillion.

Before students completing their education even get a footing with their career, they are saddled with huge amounts of debts. One of the major concerns of this situation is the way we all have accepted the fact and gotten used to student debts. Today’s students are the ones who are going to lead our economy tomorrow. It is absurd to burden them with huge debts and cripple them making them incapable of competing in a professional world.

An average American student passes out with a debt of $24,000. Is there any sense in this? There are talks of lofty dreams and ideals where we point out how our next generation has to “win America’s future”. Does it make sense blocking their progress by placing hurdles and roadblocks in their path?

A large population of our country is being severely affected by student debts. Most of the families and students are struggling with the ever rising tuition costs and are forced to take out a loan. As of now, only students from a few public universities pass out without any debts.

Most of them attending for-profit, private schools pass out with student loan debt. University of Washington and other similar universities refuse to accept many students in-state. This in turn reduces the options of obtaining quality education for Washington students to a great extent.

The state will be unable to afford even public education cost as the next biennium will see a 16 percent hike in tuition fee, even if some students are lucky enough to get in. This eventually leads to more debt. It goes without saying that this generation will not be in a hurry to start a family or purchase a home.

According to Alan Collinge, student loan activist, the situation is alarming as this is the first generation that will face debts of this proportion. Those who are determined to work hard and do well will find it hugely challenging. It is a sad situation where just because a student wishes to pursue a degree, he or she is in debt.

Pursuing higher education today seems to be a punishable crime as students struggle to balance after school jobs and studies to make ends meet. Some people actually think student loans are nothing but an investment for the future.

They think that just by completing a college degree, you can land a high paying job. Sadly, this is not the truth. It is not very easy to find hard paying jobs today. Most students end up with a mammoth debt and low income jobs.

This eventually leads to loan default. These loans are not protected by consumer protections such as truth in lending requirements and option of bankruptcy. Consequently, the loan agency tends to directly force your employer to part with your wages.

All of us wish to see our nation rise and shine. It will be much easier if the younger generation wasn’t bogged down right at the starting line.