24 minute read
Guest Columns
GUEST COLUMN Lou Glazer Don’t believe the student loan crisis hype
Type “student loan crisis” into the Google search engine and you get 58 million results. Over and over and over again, we are told that today’s college students, particularly those who pursue a four-year degree, are saddled with debt so large that they are more likely to be paupers than prosperous.
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So as conventional wisdom goes, high school graduates (except for our own kids, of course) are better o forgoing a four-year degree and learning a trade at a community college or in an apprenticeship program.
There is one problem with this oft-told story: It is simply not accurate. America does not have a student loan crisis. And that’s not to mention that the behind-in-payment rate for those with a bachelor’s degree is substantially lower than for those who have an associate degree or no degree, including those with non-degree credentials.|
Compelling evidence of the absence of a student loan crisis comes from The Federal Reserve’s Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2020. An entire chapter of the report is devoted to student loans.
The Fed’s key fi ndings:
• The share of adults who were behind on their payments is much lower when accounting for all borrowers, including those who had completely repaid that debt. Among those who have ever incurred debt for their education, 9% were behind on their payments at the time of the survey, 42% had outstanding debt and were current on their payments, and 49% had completely paid o their loans.
The median amount of education debt in 2020 among those with any outstanding debt for their own education was between $20,000 and $24,999. • Among those with outstanding debt from their own education, 18% were behind on their payments. Those who did not complete a degree were the most likely to be behind. Thirty-one percent of adults who had education loans outstanding and who had less than an associate degree reported being behind. This compares to 22% of borrowers with an associate degree. The delinquency rate was even lower among borrowers with a bachelor’s degree (9%) or graduate degree (8%). • Repayment status also differed by the type of institution attended. More than one-fourth of borrowers who attended for-profit institutions were behind on student loan payments, versus 10% who attended public institutions and 5% who attended private notfor-profi t institutions.
It is accurate that for student loan borrowers under 40, fi rst-generation students and Blacks and Hispanics have higher shares of adults behind on their payments: 16% for fi rst-generation students vs. 4% for non-fi rst generation students; 23% for Blacks and 20% for Hispanics, compared to 4% for Asians and 6% for whites.
The most important fi nding may well be the self-reported well-being of 18-39-year-olds by education attainment and student loans status:
• Of those who never took out a student loan, 93% of those with a bachelor’s degree or more say that they are doing at least OK fi nancially, compared to 74% of those with some college or a technical or associate degree. • Of those who have paid o their student loan, 92% of those with a bachelor’s degree or more say that they are doing at least OK fi nancially, compared to 65% of those with some college or a technical or associate degree. • Of those 18-39 still paying o a student loan, 80% with a bachelor’s degree or more say they are doing at least OK fi nancially, compared to 52% of those with some college or a technical or associate degree.
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MI VIEW WEST Garth Kriewall Michigan journalist, kriewall@hotmail.com
GUEST COLUMN Doug DeVos A question for Constitution Day
Constitution Day is an overlooked holiday. Yet Sept. 17 should not go unnoticed. The foundational principle of our governing charter is at risk of being forgotten. Recalling it is essential to our national future.
With the distance of 234 years, it’s easy to forget the revolutionary nature of the Constitution. Like every country, America’s founders asked themselves a simple question: Where does power come from?
Yet unlike every country, they gave a radical answer. It is the Constitution’s fi rst three words: “We the people.”
This principle turned history on its head. It recognized the truth that you and I and all our fellow citizens are the ultimate authority. The Constitution set forth a powerful standard for Americans to meet.
From the moment those words were written, it was obvious: America fell short. Our country has allowed terrible wrongs to exist, most notably slavery. Such injustices made “we the people” more hope than fact. They concentrated power in the hands of a few, despite the moral mandate to empower the many.
Previous generations strived to uphold that promise. The abolitionists helped end slavery after the Civil War, the su ragettes won the right to vote for women, the civil rights movement moved us closer to equal protection under the law, and so many others have written the story of American empowerment. With each barrier that was broken, the country moved closer to “we the people.”
But somewhere along the way, progress stalled, and even reversed.
Not in every respect. The quest to empower all our fellow citizens is alive and well in movements for equality under the law, criminal justice reform, a better education system, and economic opportunity for all, among others. Yet in other ways, the recent trend has been to disempower people. Power is being taken from the many and given to a select few.
This trend takes many forms, and it defi es a simplistic left-versus-right framework.
To start, our elected o cials have asserted control over ever more of daily life.
Across both parties, there is a growing sense that nothing is beyond the government’s purview — that all questions can be resolved by federal legislation and executive orders handed down from on high.
Elected o cials also have delegated their power to the judicial branch.
Rather than take hard votes on tough issues, they’ve asked the Supreme Court to decide some of the most divisive and consequential issues. Yet the American people gave lawmakers the power to legislate, and by giving that power away to unelected judges, we the people are less able to hold our leaders accountable and shift the policies that govern our lives.
Finally, our elected o cials have created a government insulated from the people’s control.
It’s called the “administrative state,” and it’s so large, even Washington, D.C. doesn’t know how many departments, agencies and commissions it has created. This vast bureaucracy has authority to control the economy and even create federal crimes — 300,000 and counting. Yet no American ever voted for it, and none of us can vote against it. Do we really want power to reside with the unelected and unaccountable?
All three problems are getting harder to ignore. Americans of all political stripes are wondering why so much power has been granted to so few people, with so few limitations on how they can wield it, and so few consequences when they overstep their bounds.
There’s no better day to think about these challenges than Constitution Day. And there’s no better time to ask the question that animates that document: Where does power come from?
The answer is “we the people” — all of us, not merely some of us. It’s as radical now as it was on Sept. 17, 1787. And it’s just as important to return and keep that power where it belongs.
Doug DeVos is co-chairman of Amway and chairman of the National Constitution Center.
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PUBLISHED BY GEMINI MEDIA, LLC CEO Stefan Wanczyk PRESIDENT John Balardo
Clean energy sector surges after taking employment hit
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to the analysis, policies that move Michigan toward its goal of decarbonization by 2050 would help create tens of thousands of new jobs for decades as Michigan moves beyond the immediate recovery.
“We have a blueprint in the Biden administration’s Build Back Better plan and a step in the right direction with the senate’s passing of the infrastructure bill. Creating jobs and helping our economy and environment shouldn’t be a partisan issue, and Midwest Congress members from both sides of the aisle will be key to implementing the Build Back Better plan.”
Like most other sectors of the economy, clean energy was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn in 2020. According to this year’s Clean Jobs Midwest report, 2020 was the first year-to-year decline since E2 and Clean Energy Trust began tracking Michigan clean energy jobs in 2016.
At one point, more than 31,000 Michigan clean energy workers had filed for unemployment, but the sector surged back 20.4% in the second half of the year to recover about two-thirds of the jobs initially lost. The final 2020 job numbers represent a 9.5% drop in Michigan’s clean energy workforce from 2019, or 11,900 jobs.
Last year’s job losses were a dramatic change of pace for the industry. In the three years leading up to 2020, for example, clean energy jobs grew almost three times as fast as overall statewide employment.
According to the analysis, energy e ciency jobs saw the biggest drop with Michigan’s largest clean energy employer now employing 74,242. The sector lost 11,081 jobs, declining about 13% over the year as workers were prevented from entering homes and o ces because of the pandemic lockdowns.
Other clean energy sectors also saw significant declines in 2020, including renewable energy (5.9%), grid and storage (8.1%), and clean fuels (4.1%).
“There is some good news,” said Ian Adams, managing director at Clean Energy Trust. “The industry is rebounding and grew faster than the overall economy in the second half of the year. A few other bright spots: wind energy, those jobs grew by 4% last year, despite the downturn, and now employ almost 40,000 people in the Midwest, and advanced transportation jobs grew in every state in the region, driven by growth of hybrids and electric vehicles.”
Clean energy jobs in Michigan rebounded quicker than the overall workforce in the state, according to the analysis. Michigan can take advantage of the sector’s high job growth potential by enacting policies that support renewable energy, energy e ciency and electric vehicles, the report stated.
The EV and hybrid electric vehicle industries now employ about 24,268 Michiganders as an increasing number of automakers announced shifts to producing 100% zero-emission vehicles.
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Industrial | Of ce | Retail | Multifamily | Investment | Property Management “Energy is an economic engine in my district, with clean energy jobs supporting thousands of families. These jobs were growing three times faster than the overall economy leading up to the pandemic and have recovered more quickly.” Rep. Aric Nesbitt
Renewable energy now employs 10,767 Michiganders, including 4,967 in wind and 4,555 in solar.
Additionally, grid and storage employ 3,579 Michiganders, and clean fuels employs 600. Small businesses drive Michigan’s clean energy sector — in 2020, 77.9% of Michigan’s clean energy businesses employed fewer than 20 people, according to the report. Clean energy employed workers in all 83 counties and all 14 congressional districts in Michigan.
“Energy is an economic engine in my district, with clean energy jobs supporting thousands of families,” said Aric Nesbitt, Michigan Senate president pro-tempore of the 26th District. “These jobs were growing three times faster than the overall economy leading up to the pandemic and have recovered more quickly. Long-term, sustainable jobs — that can’t be outsourced — will create a strong future for Michigan and our communities.”
Nationwide, clean energy employment finished 2020 down about 307,000 jobs from 2019’s high of nearly 3.4 million, recovering about 300,000 jobs nationally from June to December — a rate faster than nationwide employment growth during that period.
Methodology
The analysis is based on preliminary employment data collected and analyzed by BW Research Partnership for the 2021 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER).
The USEER analyzes data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages to track employment across many energy production, transmission and distribution subsectors. In addition, the 2021 USEER relies on a unique supplemental survey of 35,000 business representatives across the U.S.
LETTER
It’s time to protect tax dollars and whistleblowers
At first glance, the recent Senate passage of the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package warrants applause, and it does. But with trillions of taxpayer dollars likely to flow out of Washington for federal infrastructure projects, we need government witnesses of waste, fraud, corruption and mismanagement to be able to signal problems as soon as possible without fear of reprisal. Unfortunately, the system to protect those whistleblowers is not working, and until it does — we can’t expect those individuals to put their livelihoods on the line to protect tax dollars.
The United States doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to protecting and uplifting whistleblowers, despite their bravery and the crucial role whistleblowers play in any modern democracy.
Local whistleblowers — ordinary folks with an extraordinary level of bravery and integrity — have made a significant di erence in the lives of Michiganders. Years ago, LeeAnne Walters and Marc Edwards, a mother and a scientist, respectively, unveiled the extent of contamination of Flint water. Out of concern and care for their fellow citizens, they uncovered evidence that the city had permitted dangerous levels of lead and other toxic substances to contaminate drinking water for more than a year. Their actions forced then-Gov. Rick Snyder to finally deal with the problem.
But their heroic actions were not taken without risk. Those who are brave enough to come forward and report wrongdoing are still routinely attacked by both politicians and the media, demoted or fired, or subjected to intimidation or investigation. Telling the truth, an act that should be normal in any government run by and for people, often endangers those committed to holding it accountable.
To preserve the sanctity of local and national governments, the federal government must address these injustices against those who speak the truth and strengthen its whistleblower protections to ensure a functioning democracy for generations to come.
Congress can make significant progress in this mission by passing the Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act, which would increase whistleblower protections and better ensure that those committed to holding government o cials accountable can do so without losing their jobs.
I encourage Rep. Peter Meijer to show his support for whistleblowers by cosponsoring this legislation. In doing so, he can ensure that those who are committed to unveiling wrongdoing through whistleblowing are better supported and protected in the future.
Marta Johnson Grand Rapids
Don’t believe the student loan crisis hype
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When asked about changes they would make to earlier education decisions, only 5% of those with a bachelor’s degree or more said they would not attend college or get less education and 35% said they would have completed more education. This compares to 65% of those with an associate degree who said they would have completed more education and 71% of those with some college or technical degree. So large majorities of those who attended college but without a bachelor’s degree say they did not get enough education. They also don’t believe the oft-told story that pursuing more education is no longer worthwhile.
All of this adds up quite conclusively to there is no student loan crisis. Nine percent behind on student loans does not add up to a student loan crisis. A typical loan of $20,000 to $24,999 does not add up to a student loan crisis.
Even more clearly, we do not have a student loan crisis among recent college graduates with a four-year degree or more. The report shows delinquency rates for those with a bachelor’s degree or more are far lower than for those with an associate degree or less. And well-being rates are significantly higher for those with a bachelor’s degree compared to those with an associate degree or less for both those who have paid o their student loans and those still with debt.
Grand Rapids, it’s time to celebrate our ROA (Return of ArtPrize).
With eager anticipation, we’re delighted to welcome artists and art lovers from our local community and all over the world back to the heart of Grand Rapids for ArtPrize 2021. We know that we will be dazzled, enlightened and sometimes provoked by the creativity that will grace our city in the coming weeks. But most importantly, we will experience it together as a community – something we all need. So, thank you, ArtPrize artists, event organizers and sponsors, for making this year’s ArtPrize one to celebrate. To the Grand Rapids community, it is an honor and privilege to serve you.
25 Ottawa Avenue SW, Suite 110, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616.888.3210 greenleaftrust.com
KCI keeps costs down
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
able to track each mail piece as it moves through the delivery process.
“When we hand our mail to the post o ce these days, we also hand them a digital file telling them every mail piece and where it’s going and what kind of a barcode it has on it, so they can see right into the system as to how the mail is traveling,” Quist said, noting that even as recently as 10 years ago, this was all done via printed paperwork.
The postal service then checks the mail by scanning the pallets and gives KCI a score each month. If the score were to fall below a certain quality threshold, KCI would then take a penalty.
“But we don’t have that problem,” Quist said.
KCI’s customers for metered letters include insurance companies, health care systems, small businesses and government entities, metering pieces such as bills, assessment notices and service notifications.
In addition to metered mail, KCI also is a printer that prints and mails advertising and direct mail for clients, including fundraising pieces and booklets for nonprofits, political candidate fliers and ballots during election years, coupon mailers, and so on.
KCI has about 65 employees who are drivers, mail processors, designers, project managers and administrative workers — many of whom have had to upskill over the years as the business has become more automated.
During the pandemic, KCI did some hiring, due to the influx of orders that happened when companies laid o or furloughed internal workers who had been in charge of producing mailings for their business. KCI was classified as an essential employer, and so it was all-hands-on-deck.
Up through July, KCI’s revenue was up over the same period last year, although because it’s an o year for elections, it may end up evening out by year’s end, Quist said.
He said KCI continues to add to its technology, including recently installing a printer that can do full color variable envelopes to print messaging on the outside of envelopes, coloring on the fly at the same time as the addresses are printed. KCI also recently installed a new inserting machine that can track the mail and do multiple inserts into the same envelope by reading a barcode.
Quist said he hopes companies that aren’t aware of KCI’s services will give them consideration in light of the USPS rate hike.
“If people are paying retail postage, and they don’t know that there’s a consolidator around that can save them on postage, people might be interested in that, because it’s kind of a strange business, and a lot of people don’t know we even exist,” he said. “Although, you may start noticing us if you’re in the Grand Rapids area — people probably recognize our vehicles on the road, because we have about 12 delivery/pickup mail vehicles.”
More information about KCI is at kentcommunications.com.
08 OF 11
YOU CAN’T GET SOBER WITHOUT GOD.
Missions intersect for Rev. Tim Wilson
When Tim Wilson enrolled in Hope College, he began as a double major in political science and history with his eyes set on law school.
But a bleeding ulcer in his junior year nearly ended his life – and prompted a reevaluation of college and career. Tim admits to falling in love with the community surrounding him and the pastor who walked alongside him. At that moment, Tim made a commitment, noting “whatever this guy is doing, I want to give my life to that.”
So the Hudsonville native added a religion major to his education portfolio and began reading the Bible, which became “profoundly interesting” to Tim. “These ancient stories communicated some deep things I never knew were there,” he recalled. After graduation, it was only natural that he “crossed the street” to attend the Western Theological Seminary.
Unlike many of his colleagues, Tim said his was a “slow discernment” to professional ministry he was still trying to fi gure out while in the seminary. On the one hand, he knew he wanted to walk beside people in their stages of pain, grief and loss. On the other, he was terrifi ed of public speaking after having outgrown a childhood stutter. Tim preached at a few churches before receiving “a new sense of call and a confi dence in that call” to share God’s word through the Bible and its ancient stories. He was drawn to the ministry, beginning his work at a small church in Zeeland.
“I sat with a young mother as she said goodbye to her husband,” Tim recalled. “As a pastor, I was trying to think of something profound and important to say. When I saw her child’s tricycle sitting in the hospice room – I lost it. Those early days of ministry woke me to the fact this work is far bigger than the degree, which gives you access to people you don’t necessarily deserve.
“That kind of positional authority gives you access into some of the most intimate personal spaces where no one else is allowed. I realized I was taking a space that should have belonged to a friend or parent or spouse. I resolved that if I was going to be allowed in, I would have to be present for this person.”
That commitment continued as the now Rev. Wilson transitioned to his second church, South Harbor Church in Byron Center. It was coming out of a dunk tank during vacation Bible school that his path fi rst crossed with Guiding Light.
“I was soaking wet, and a man came up to me and said, ‘I can’t stop drinking; I’m drunk right now and my wife is looking at us,’” Rev. Wilson remembered. “Sure enough, he was – and she was. She was embarrassed. I followed up on that conversation and learned that they had spent more than $100,000 on rehab in the past – and nothing had worked. His wife was done.
Guiding Light Recovery offers an intensive drug and alcohol recovery program designed to give men structure and opportunity to engage in change. Known on the streets as “no-joke recovery,” the program combines evidence-based practices, lifecoaching, therapy, support groups, spiritual direction and resources to equip men to build a life worth staying sober for. Thanks to the generosity of donors, Guiding Light offers the program free of charge to men struggling with addiction.
“This man did a lot of hiding early on,” Rev. Wilson recalled. “He was afraid that one of the volunteers or donors would recognize him. But he continued to meet with the staff and work the program, and something fi nally broke in him – recovery fi nally began to make sense. “I was meeting with him regularly at Guiding Light, and all of a sudden, these guys from the program started coming to our church. I had gotten to know the guys at 255 South Division, and they were really good men who had made some mistakes.
Rev. Wilson found he was getting more calls from people seeking help – a woman who said her boyfriend had a problem with drugs, another who said her husband couldn’t stop drinking. He again turned to Guiding Light, often calling on one of its board members for support – and the answer was always yes, of course, immediately.
After three such calls in a week, Rev. Wilson turned to that board member, puzzled, and said: “I don’t know what I’m doing. I have gone my whole professional life without doing interventions, and here we are doing three in little more than a week. All of these guys have dropped everything when I called to help out – to sit with us in homes or churches. This is just so weird.
Rev. Wilson joined the board of Guiding Light four years ago, drawn to the mission and the opportunity to serve. He values his fellow board members, noting they are “doing something for free because they love God and they love people.” And he values the approach Guiding Light takes in its Recovery program.
“Guiding Light has put its faith before its strategies,” Rev. Wilson noted. “A lot of centers will hire really brilliant people and have a great program. Guiding Light has prioritized faith and spiritual discipline, bringing in local churches for support.
“I don’t think you can get sober without God. I don’t think you can get sober without faith. Guiding Light may not be really shiny on the outside, but that is part of how it works. God works through the ugliness and the messiness and the weakness of the situation. ‘‘Everyone working in the program has a deep love of
God and a deep belief that ”sobriety is possible – but you can’t do it without God.
