“"I have to ask: Is there any industry not on the verge of federalization?" said Rep. John Kline (Minn.), the senior Republican on the committee.” Quoted from the Washington Post, July 22, 2009. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/21/AR2009072103409.html?wpisrc=newsletter) That is an apt question for our time, Representative Kline. The article is about the federalizing of the student loan program, but the implications of his question reach much further than that.
When Nancy Reagan began her campaign to improve schools, we wondered if the national government belonged in the school business. When the Clintons began their health care initiative, we wondered if the national government belonged in the health care business. When the insurance companies were bailed out, we wondered if the national government belonged in the insurance industry. When the banking system was bailed out, we wondered about Uncle Sam, the banker. When the car companies were bailed out, we wondered if the government belonged in the board room. At least with the federalization of the student loan system, here is a time we don’t need to wonder about government competence. The government has shown itself to be very competent at arranging loans. But whether it should be doing so for our students is what we need to debate.