Last Updated on August 27, 2022
Prominent Republicans have begun to admit that excessively high college tuition prices help bolster the American military since teenagers struggle to receive higher education without federal loans and will sign away four years of their life supporting the military in return for G.I. Bill college benefits.
On Thursday, Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) criticized student loan forgiveness because it “undermines” military recruiting.
“Student loan forgiveness undermines one of our military’s greatest recruitment tools at a time of dangerously low enlistments,” the Indiana Republican tweeted.
Student loan forgiveness undermines one of our military’s greatest recruitment tools at a time of dangerously low enlistments.
— Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) August 25, 2022
Banks referenced low recruiting numbers for the military. As National File previously reported in June, military officials announced that every branch of the military is struggling to reach its 2022 fiscal year recruiting goals. To ensure a large military is maintained, recruiting standards have begun to be reduced:
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth announced new policies which allow recruits to have small tattoos on their hands, ears, and necks.
They also removed its mandate for recruits to have a high school diploma or GED certificate to enlist. Americans can enlist without the previously required education standards if they ship off to basic training before October 1st, the end of this fiscal year.
Critics of Banks’ tweet claimed that free college being used as the primary way to get military recruits helps defense contractors and politicians profit off of American imperialism. “You’re almost confessing the quiet part out loud: Without desperate citizens to serve as fodder, we might have to come up with other alternatives to almost constant war. How will we pay back defense contractors for putting us in office?,” one Twitter user asked.
You're almost confessing the quiet part out loud: Without desperate citizens to serve as fodder, we might have to come up with other alternatives to almost constant war. How will we pay back defense contractors for putting us in office? https://t.co/99hPLypbTg
— Sherry B (@OkieLibSherry) August 26, 2022
Republicans and Conservatives alike have offered a wide variety of reasons why they are against loan forgiveness. However, some high-profile figures have been proven to be hypocritical in their stances.
ironically, right-wing youtuber Steven Crowder slammed loan forgiveness despite the fact that his business had a $70,445 loan completely forgiven in 2020. “Student loan forgiveness sounds really nice to illegal immigrants, people with no life experience, people who don’t have families yet, and people who use preferred pronouns,” Crowder posted on Twitter.
He was immediately called out, and questioned over his loan.
Which one are you then? pic.twitter.com/YDDkyj6ThW
— Truther Dare (@truther_dare) August 23, 2022
Stay tuned to National File for any updates.
