Obama listens to the Rio Grande Valley whiners

NY Times:

A salutary aspect of life on the campaign trail, even in the bubble that is a candidate’s lot, is that one is reminded from time to time of the prosaic, not to mention heart-breaking, struggle of so many to escape poverty’s grasp.

So the Barack Obama campaign rolled into the flat emerald eastern edge of the Rio Grande Valley, which is the heart of Clinton country and, by the by, one of the poorer places in the United States. Here in this humid land, amid palm groves and orange trees, an overwhelmingly – about 90 percent – Latino population lives perched on precarious economic ledge. The median family income is about $31,000 and one-third of the residents have no health insurance.

The morning event was at the University of Texas-Pan American and one hastens to add that it was “staged,” in that the candidate wanted to televise his empathy for the plight of these students and to draw attention to his proposal for a big tuition tax credit in exchange for community service. Both Mr. Obama and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton have hit these themes as they traverse this valley where so many are so destitute.

But there was little staged about the students’ passion and their tales. Shy and halting at first, they recounted their struggles to pay for books and classes, even as they tried to keep food in the mouths of their children and help out a younger sister or ailing parent.

...

I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley in San Benito, Texas. Most of my classmates, whether they were Hispanic or Anglo were able to get through school and college and have successful careers. College years are always a struggle for many. I worked my way through school like many other people did. It never occurred to me to whine to a candidate about the hours I had to put in to finish my education. Obviously it is harder if you started a family before you finished school, but that is a choice some people make and they have to deal with their choices and not complain to politicians about them. To be successful in this country there are three things people need to do.

1. Finish school.
2. Get a job.
3. Don't get married until you have a job and have finished school.

Those who ignore these things make it harder on themselves to succeed, but that is their choice and should not be the responsibility of government.

There are things they can do to make it easier to pay for education without whining. They can join the service or the National Guard and get education benefits for one thing.

Strategy Page has more on the opportunities for those going into the military.