The anger generated by Democrats in the nation's capital about the looming interest rate increase on student loans is about a "crisis" of their own making.
In 2007, led by then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the Democratically controlled U.S. Congress passed legislation that cut the interest rate in half on student loans. It was in this legislation five years ago that a sunset, or ending, provision was included. July 1, 2012 is the date that the reduced interest rates are set to "double," or resume the 2007 rate.
The vote half a decade ago demonstrated bipartisan support. Today, there is bipartisan agreement that the interest rates on these student loans should not return from the 3.4 percent level to 6.8 percent.
However, the real argument that's cloaked behind the political theater is how to "pay" for the fix. Again, the question is, "where do we cut spending in one program to pay for another?"
The concern, then and now, is the rapidly escalating tuition in higher education. While election-year partisan sound bytes are parroted, the real crisis continues.
At least direct your anger or frustration toward the authentic issue.