Student Loans Likely to be Focal Point Among Young Voters

Today's society is far different than that of our parents and grandparents, today's youth are coming of age and entering the work force in one of the most competitive job markets in our history. Today's market places an enormous focus on being well educated, and well rounded so that we may integrate into the workforce seamlessly.
 
 These standards place a much larger emphasis on formal education than on generations past, to the point where if a young man or woman wishes to have a successful career they had better have some form of higher education, whether that be a vocational school, an associates degree, or a bachelor's degree. These standards have led to an enormous spike in enrollment rates across the country and American universities are just oh so willing to accommodate these changes. With more prospective students than ever before, the demand for enrollment has increased while the number of universities has stayed largely the same. following the standard business model of supply and demand, the increased demand for college means that the price to attend increases as well, the greater the demand, the more the demanding are willing to pay for such a service. This has led America to a time of rapidly increasing college tuition rates, largely outside the general means of the family to foot the bill. Virtually all students today receive some sort of loan, be it private or federally funded, and the issue of paying these loans back is becoming a hot button issue during the upcoming election.
  
 The issue of repaying federally funded loans, or forgiving them entirely, has been an issued covered by the candidates because of the huge number of potential voters this effects. During the 2008 campaign sixty-six percent of voters aged 18-29 supported incumbent President Obama. This is a significant portion of the electorate, and it also happens to be one of the most politically active age groups as well. Rough estimates put the figure of student loan debt post graduation at around 25,000 dollars, a conservative estimation by many economists. In addition to these numbers keep in mind that the majority of student's need their parents to co-sign loans with them, which makes this issue hugely important among middle aged and older voters as well. Given the current economic problems within the country many American's, student and parent alike, are increasingly concerned with heightened interest rates.
 
What this means for the candidates, is a significant portion of the electorate will be focused on this issue and it is in the presidential hopefuls best interests to campaign on a platform that will work to reduce,  or stabilize the rate at which student loan interest rises and the amount of time given to graduates to repay their debt. In an age where most graduates are underemployed their first few years post graduation this issue could seriously sway undecided voters or cement their loyalties within their party.
  As of recent both presidential candidates have voiced their support for a freeze on interest rate increases. While President Obama has been tenative on the practice of forgiving student debt he has entertained the idea for certain fields and for those who are economically underprivallaged. Former Governor Romney on the other hand, in a recent appearance in Ohio, voiced his disdain for the practice saying, "Don't expect the government to pay for a debt that you took on" in response to a question raised by a current college student.
 It is clear that this issue is going to be a hot topic and a large portion of the undecided vote rests on the actions taken by both candidates.

For more information on student loan debt and the role it will play in elections visit:

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/05/03/how-student-debt-became-focus-presidential-campaign