Submitted by E-Pluribus-Unum (not verified) on July 24, 2008 - 12:23pm.
I'm all in favor of loan forgiveness for public service, but this latest development only underscores my skepticism about its effectiveness, as well as its symbolic impact. What we really need to do is create a Public Service Academy akin to the military service academies -- students get a free education in return for five years of mandatory public service. There's a grassroots group that has been pushing this idea for the past couple years. It's getting bipartisan support in Congress -- 20 senators and 113 representatives are co-sponsors of a bill to create the Academy. Check it out: www.uspublicserviceacademy.org.
Why not create a Public Service Academy?
I'm all in favor of loan forgiveness for public service, but this latest development only underscores my skepticism about its effectiveness, as well as its symbolic impact. What we really need to do is create a Public Service Academy akin to the military service academies -- students get a free education in return for five years of mandatory public service. There's a grassroots group that has been pushing this idea for the past couple years. It's getting bipartisan support in Congress -- 20 senators and 113 representatives are co-sponsors of a bill to create the Academy. Check it out: www.uspublicserviceacademy.org.