Last week hundreds of thousands of students returned to college to begin a new academic year. Unfortunately, for nearly 200,000 eligible students this year, the dream of a college education has been priced out of reach. They have the grades and desire to go to college, but they simply can’t afford to go.

How does this happen in America? In no small part, it’s the result of the conservative values that dominate Washington D.C. today. These values guide conservative politicians to cut $12 billion in college tuition aid to underwrite tens of billions in tax giveaways to America’s wealthiest, hike interest rates on student loans while they break promises to increase Pell grants – the basic government scholarship program, and treat special interests as “one of their own,” while they tell most Americans, “you’re on your own.”

The result? College dreams are squelched and with them, a key stepping stone to the American dream removed. The conservative mantra “lower taxes smaller government” may sound appealing in theory, but in practice it mostly means tax breaks for the wealthy and cuts in the key domestic programs, like higher education – for working and poor people. It’s not working for most Americans.

If you like the way things are going, vote Republican. But if you have finally had enough and want change, vote Democratic on Nov. 7. It’s your very last chance.

Tom Akerlund

Ocean Park