Here's what we're hearing from students who participated in the Students Face Up to the Nation's Finances curriculum:
We Owe How Much Money?!
"After looking at the FacingUp.org website, it was rather frightening to see how far we, as a nation, have plunged into debt! How do we get out of this hole?" - - Megan Biehler, Emporia State University
"Everything was there in the curriculum and it was presented to me in a way that I could relate to. The curriculum said, "This is where we are heading if we don’t do something" and after hearing about it, I can honestly say that I don’t want to go there [let the budget get any further out of hand]... We all need to steer the ship back on course. If it gets any further out of hand, America is headed for a very dark time." - - John O'Malley, University of Pennsylvania
"We need to confront the problem and make changes. This is the first step to getting our nation – and inevitably ourselves – out of debt... If we do not confront the problem, America is going to go down the drain and everything is going to stop. These problems aren’t going away and if we don’t confront them now, they are going to be even worse later on." - -Teelah Churchill, Lyndon State College
A Job For Our Generation
"My generation is at a bigger advantage because we are starting now to plan for not having any type of Social Security or Medicare." - - Lesley Saxon Smith, Emporia State University
"We need to speak up and give our opinions, we are the future of this country and we should be helping decide on how to help fix the current mess that we have gotten ourselves into the last few decades." - - Cole Davis, Emporia State University
"Our generation views government spending much like we view credit cards – unlimited. But much like credit card debt, most of us do not understand that transferring our balance (or deficit spending, where the government is concerned) does not correct the problem." - - Mallory Livingston, Emporia State University
Personal Testimony
"My own dad... [believes] ...that what's mine is mine, and yours is yours, I shouldn't have to share my hard-earned money with anyone else, whether they're falling drastically behind or not. I love my dad, but how is that opinion going to help our rapidly deteriorating situation? There's going to have to be some distribution going on somewhere, or we'll just keep pulling money out of thin air and creating a bigger sinkhole." - - Elizabeth Shenk, Emporia State University
"Another issue is teaching children in schools and through families the dangers held in credit cards, and the responsibilities necessary when using one… I myself am an offender of the same reason that I believe we are in so much trouble. I received a credit card at a young age and I was not sure of how exactly to use it, resulting in a seven hundred dollar debt that I could not pay. I, unlike America right now, was able to work my tail off and after about two years, pay it off. America's debt though is already in the trillions." - - Evan Schlyer, Emporia State University
The Future Of Social Security And Medicare
"Assuming that we continue on the same trajectory, [by] 2030 all spending will be consumed by Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. This frightening information is not publicized enough, and therefore not many Americans grasp the severity of our current financial standing." - - Samantha Braun, University of Pennsylvania
"We need to start with a blank slate on every federal and state program. Just because we have always done something doesn't mean we should continue. Social Security might be a good example." - - Molly Pannbacker, Emporia State University
Paying The Bills
"I would not mind paying higher taxes if it meant that these programs would still be around when I get old enough to need them." - - Elizabeth Meigs, Emporia State University
"Taxpayers need to be aware that they are going to have to pay more taxes in order to get more benefits from the government. The country's current debt is partially due to citizens receiving more benefits than the amount they pay in taxes." - - Amy Niehues, Emporia State University
Get The Facts, And Get Involved In The Political Process
"[Concerned citizens}... could call or write elected U.S Senators and/or State Representatives and plainly ask them what steps they are taking to reduce the national debt... the task does not rest solely on one or even a few individuals, but as a massive organized and cooperative effort." - - Brandon Rich, Emporia State University
"I have finally realized that learning about the economy should be just as important as learning about the history of the United States." - - Miranda Campbell, Emporia State University
"Awareness is always the first key step in being able to bring change to anything. If people are unaware that there is a problem then how can Americans strive to fix it?" - - Shane Brunner, Emporia State University
"I do think that education is the key to a solution." - - Leah Perkins, Emporia State University
Transparency/Trust in Government
"When education levels on the budget are increased, the public will be better equipped to hold public officials accountable. Understanding the meanings behind deficits/debt, the public can empower people to challenge elected officials on their proposals…Further transparency is needed to reform the problematic earmark process and put new pressures on Congress." - - Jennifer L. Dietz, George Mason University
"A challenge for future government officials is to regain the trust of the people… [if] the government is to gain full trust and respect, there seems no better way than increasing the transparency of the government budget… Citizens will most likely respond… with direct activism and higher interest in governmental policies and spending." - - Anthony P. Westby, Emporia State University
Making The Micro Macro
"If the spending habits of the government wouldn't work for a typical household, chances are they aren't really working for the government either." - - Lacee Hanson, Emporia State University
"Eventually when the economic crisis has passed, paying down the debt will need to become a priority. In the meantime, we need to stop adding to it. If the average American has to stop spending more than they take in, then so does the federal government." - - Alicia Brickman, George Mason University
"It seems like getting a credit card is a rite of passage when one turns eighteen, the second rite is digging oneself into a deep [hole] of debt… When it is so common for people to be in debt, it is much easier to brush off the nation's debt and continue with their lives." - - Leah Perkins, Emporia State University
"The truth of it is, when you have money is when you need to save it. We all talk about having this ‘rainy day' fund for a time when you lose your job or you have a car payment that all of a sudden comes up – when it comes to federal budgeting, why do we not save for those things?" - - Susan Grossman, George Mason University
Iraq And The Cost Of War
"Another way for our country to save money would be to steadily end the war in Iraq. By sending a majority of our troops home …we would be saving a small fortune." - - Meredith Boydston, Emporia State University
"Ending wars abroad would help greatly. Spending 10 billion dollars a month in Iraq puts a huge strain on a budget. If this is reduced, a balanced budget would become a more likely goal." - - Cade Johnson Witte, Emporia State University
The Greening Of America
"The United States is currently shipping trillions of dollars overseas because of foreign oil resources instead of creating incentives to explore and extract energy in our own country. I would support the exploration of the multiple other alternatives such as solar, wind-power and hydropower energies for the country to become more energy-efficient. Ideally, our country would eventually become sufficient enough where outside resources would no longer be necessary." - - Mary Connolly, Manhattan College
"[When the government promotes] alternative energy, the government is indirectly promoting science and technology programs at all levels of education. Subsequently, advancing the rapid expansion of that technology creates jobs and decreases unemployment." - - Susan Grossman, George Mason University
For more on the Students Face Up to the Nation's Finances curriculum [0], a nonpartisan initiative by PublicAgenda.org [1], contact Melissa Feldsher at mfeldsher@publicagenda.org [2] or by phone at 212-686-6610, extension 50.