Obama’s Takeover of Veterans’ Education
It looks like the Rightwing Noise Machine has another “Government Takeover!” soundbite for getting the inbreds all fired up. President Obama has issued an executive order to start cracking down on diploma mills that target soldiers and veterans.
The fact that it was done by executive order instead of through Congress — that in itself is enough to get the Right screaming. What else could he have done? That giant 435-member whorehouse formerly known as Congress certainly wasn’t gonna do anything on behalf of soldiers or veterans. I mean, come on, when was the last time a soldier wrote a 7-figure campaign contribution to a congressman?
There’s been a growing number of for-profit colleges and technical schools that have been offering worthless diplomas. Soldiers and veterans and their families are their main targets. For example, there’s a website called GIbill.com which has absolutely nothing to do with the G.I. Bill. The website’s purpose is to steer visitors to a list of for-profit schools.
Part of Obama’s plan is to trademark the term “GI Bill” so that sleazy operators can’t use the term just to ensnare veterans.
Obama talked about this in a speech at Fort Stewart, Georgia. He said these diploma mills “don’t care about you. They care about your cash.”
He referred to the “9/11 generation” and said America would fight for soldiers and veterans just as they had fought for their country. He was joined by Michelle Obama and Holly Petraeus (yes of course it’s his wife; how many Petraeus’ do you know?)
Obama’s executive order also includes a new system called Know Before You Owe. This will enable veterans to calculate — with pinpoint accuracy — the ACTUAL cost of a school’s tuition and fees. Schools can join this program voluntarily this year. Next year it’ll be mandatory.
A veterans’ group called Student Veterans of America was grateful for Obama’s executive order, saying this would help stop “deceptive and misleading practices.”
The Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities, a lobbying group for diploma mills — yes of course they’ve got one — shed a few crocodile tears over the fact that Obama “decided to bypass the Congress” with an executive order.
Labels: Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities, diploma mills soldiers veterans, GIbill.com, Know Before You Owe, Obama diploma mills, Student Veterans of America, trademark GI Bill
posted by Tom Harper @ 12:46 PM
9 Comments:
The GOP has never met a profit-mill that it didn't love and want to get contributions from.
I wish he can helped the rest of us that easily. When those high interest Check Checking places opened. Congress tried to get rid of them, but found instead they were in bed with the regular banks (and since some of them have consolidated and become as bigger then some banks) . The best Congress could do is pass a law keeping them from a certain distance from Military Bases.
Now it’s the Private Schools, which get over 70% of our Department of Education Student Loan money, have the biggest default rate and have made billionaires of a few “Self made” men who don’t mind tapping the government till.
Congress and Arnie Duncan have tried to fix it, but unfortunately even Nancy Pelosi has been stalling the bill.
It’s good we can do it in the name of Veterans but I wish they could come to the rescue of the rest of us.
Erik
Three was a very recent senate report said 15 of these colleges got 86% or some high number like that of their funds from the government. Sad thing is these schools have been lobbying the likes of Virginia Foxx, she of I paid my own damn college get off my lawn fame, with taxpayer monies that have been funneled to them, through taxpayer aid at the expense of students probably. I am breathlessly awaiting right wing troll spice to come and say something about glad you guys think like teabaggers, this is not ok but something something, blah blah blabbity blah Obama is a double headed commiepinkosocialistantichristkittyeatingbabykiller. Look Lisa, I saved you the trouble of even posting and JR saved you the trouble of saying bitch make me a sandwich. She has enough time now to not only make you that sandwich but fetch yer pipe and slippers along with yer smoking jacket. You are so very welcome Lisa. You also, too JR you betcha ;)
Jess, she has been busy, taking care of her man. When he gives her permission, and tells her what to say, she'll drop by :)
Tom,
The Right, with their constant obstruction, filibustering, and constant delaying tactics, have made Congress all but irrelevant anyway. Piss on 'em - they are not in the least interested in governance, because they're obsessed with hatred of government. They should consider themselves damn fortunate that the President has not yet taken tp ruling by executive decree. What an absolute bunch of profiteering scumbag losers!
Jess/JR HOW CAN YOU GUYS BE SO CRUEL???
You forgot to post a off topic, Conspiracy driven, video to further make her point.
I'll take care of that
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHO5iwzM8pc
Erik
This is nothing new. I recall a 1980's TV exposé of these rackets. They showed a Vietnam vet in a low-paying job who took his savings and G.I. Bill benefit, and paid two or three thousand dollars to an outfit that was supposed to teach him to be a long-haul semi driver. The outfit did TV and radio advertising that was very impressive, had testimonials from successful graduates, employers, etc.
The training was flimsy and badly incomplete. The school had one dilapidated truck that sometimes couldn't be started for days. Halfway through the course, the school suddenly shut down leaving the vet and handful of other students out of luck. State authorities had shown up asking questions, which evidently scared the operators. In short order, the school owners declared bankruptcy, leaving all students and most creditors out of luck.
The report ended by explaining that the principals of the truck driving school had opened and shut down at least five vocational-type schools over a decade or so, and would undoubtedly be back in business in a different state and with a new name in couple of months. The scum bags managed to operate just inside the law.
Good for Obama, for cracking down on these scams. Fie on those who will use his doing it as an excuse for some more Obama bashing.
@Erik, actually that could be kinda sorta on topic for morons, with the fake poutrage acting they do.
Jerry: Damn right, they couldn't get elected without those for-profit mills financing their campaigns.
Erik: Good point. When a politician says "veterans" and "soldiers" it has a lot more gravitas than when it's just the rest of us, even when we're in the same predicament.
Jess: Good old Virginia Foxx. Thanks for doing Lisa's job for her; so far she hasn't stopped by.
JR: LOL. I'm expecting some regurgitated Hannity spewings any minute now.
Jack: It's pretty sad when everything has to be done by either executive order or recess appointment. Hopefully these congressional prostitutes will make themselves obsolete someday.
Erik: Aw, you've made Lisa completely irrelevant now.
SW: Interesting story. I hadn't heard of that particular incident, but I've heard a lot of similar stories. I'm glad something will finally be done.
Jess: Poutrage -- I like it.
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