Financial aid for college: I love this country, but does it love my daughter back?

If there ever was a populist editorial one should read if they find themselves not being able to afford college for their child: It is the editorial written by Michael Arceneaux titled: Should Illegal Immigrants Receive Financial Aid?.  Within it, he raises a valid point: “While I'm well aware that illegal immigrants have a legal right to receive a K-12 education in the United States, isn’t it a bit much to suggest that we start using our tax dollars to cover the expenses of non-U.S. citizens seeking higher education?”

I will answer his question of whether or not it is a bit too much to pay for illegal immigrants to attend college in this country, by saying YES!  The reason for that answer is that I have a daughter who shall remain nameless who was accepted to a community college, yet we as her parents are frantically searching for funds to do so. 

We applied to FAFSA which is a federal program, only to be told we make too much: if one can call making $100,000 thousand dollars while living on Long Island too much.  They, the federal government has no idea as to what we pay monthly for our mortgage, our food bills, our utility bills, our medical bills and the list is endless: yet we were turned down?  This is insane!

We are frantically looking into various scholarships and I even took time to write the chairman of the WWE, Vince McMahon on her behalf pleading for help.  She wishes to major in business management and is an avid fan of wrestling.  I do not know if Mr. McMahon will hear my pleas, but in my letter to him, I wrote that she would be a strong addition to his business.  She could learn much in an intern position from such a successful business man.  Also, the WWE is a multi-billion dollar business.  Just turn on your television sets to any “Monday Night Raw” on the USA channel to see how they fill any arena.  In this devastated economy, to see how many seats they fill is awesome for lack of a better word.

My daughter even turned me into an avid wrestling fan and that it to her credit.

Today, I even took time to write my Congressman, Tim Bishop asking for help.  You see, I have volunteered my time and money to his campaigns and have never asked for anything in return.  This time, I am doing so in order to help my daughter.

I plan on writing the owner of the Red Sox tomorrow since my daughter is an avid Red Sox fan.  She knows baseball stats like the back of her hand.  The Red Sox or any baseball team would be grateful to have her working for them.

But, to get back to the original point and a populist point: Why are tax payer dollars used to fund illegal immigrants through a college career when so many Americans cannot find two dimes to scrape together to send theirs?  This is not fair and it is up to the politicians to correct it.

When parents can’t find any money to send their children to college, the moment their children leaves high school without a college to attend to, they lose their health coverage.  This I find unfair given the fact that tax payer dollars are used to fund health care programs for illegal immigrants.

Michael also raises another valid point which is: “but I don’t see why some would want to put them in competition with struggling American students over already scarce aid.” Them, being illegal immigrants.  In this fractured economy, I do not see why our politicians would favor illegal immigrants over American middle-class students who only want to realize their dreams.  In this case, my daughter’s dream is to perhaps work for either the WWE, the Red Sox, The Islanders or any other sports franchise.  But, how can she when we her parents cannot access aid from our own federal government to send her onto college?  She was born in this country and deserves a chance. 

Those not born in this country should ask their own governments for college aid.

I am sick and tired of my tax dollars going to someone who was not born in this country to attend college while I see my daughter’s chances slipping away.  I love this country, but does it love me and my daughter back?

Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net

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