"The Can can kick back"

July 22, 2011

Student body presidents from more than 100 colleges across the country have signed onto a letter urging Congress and the White House to quickly reach a consensus on the debt ceiling crisis. The bipartisan group of leaders, who represent almost 2 million college students, called on President Obama, Leaders Reid &McConnell, Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi to support “Gang of Six” efforts to cut the deficit, reform the tax code, and preserve entitlements. 

“Your decisions will determine what kind of country we will inherit. So please hear us clearly: It is time to put the politics aside. It is time to put the parties aside,” the presidents wrote in their letter(below the video). “It is time to put the pledges aside. Now is the time to do what is right for the country. As fiscal commission co-chairs Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson have said – now, right now, is the moment of the truth.”

College of William and Mary student Kaveh Sadeghian, who is one of the student body presidents who signed onto the letter, spoke with CNN yesterday about the importance of reaching a bipartisan deal.

“We feel like Washington has been kind of kicking the can about this, but we’re here to show that the can can kick back,” Sadeghian said. “Our generation is going to be homeowners one day, we’re going to be parents one day, this is going to be affecting us for years to come.  So this is something we feel we need to have a voice in as well.”

 
 
July 20, 2011

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama, Leader Reid, Leader McConnell, Speaker Boehner, and Leader Pelosi:
 
On behalf of over 1.88 million students on 115 campuses, we write to express our deep concern about
the ramifications of failing to reach a bipartisan deal to raise the debt limit.
This is not about politics. Our country and our future are in serious trouble, and the clock is ticking.
Without an immediate increase in the debt ceiling and a long-term reduction of budget deficits, our
weak economy will suffer even more. That means higher interest rates, fewer jobs and more debt. And
trust us, we already have too few jobs and too much debt.
We urge you to work together to find a solution to this problem in an aggressive yet balanced way.
We support the framework laid out by the bipartisan fiscal commission and the efforts of the
bipartisan group of leaders in the Senate as a realistic basis from which to work. Shared sacrifice and
common purpose must underpin whatever compromise is reached.
As our study of history tells us, big things get done when leaders of both parties do them together –
from establishing social security to reforming welfare. We now call on you to find the common
ground necessary to put our fiscal house in order.
While you may disagree over which party shoulders more blame for our current situation, one thing is
certain – young people will shoulder the consequences of gridlock during a time that requires bold
action.
Your decisions will determine what kind of country we will inherit. So please hear us clearly: It is
time to put the politics aside. It is time to put the parties aside. It is time to put the pledges aside. Now
is the time to do what is right for the country. As fiscal commission co-chairs Erskine Bowles and
Alan Simpson have said – now, right now, is the moment of the truth.
We not only face a potential crisis of credit, but also one of confidence in government. Your
responsibilities as the President and members of Congress must come before your political parties’
interest. In your negotiations, think about the next generation – not just the next election.
This is about our future, our education, our jobs, our families, our dreams, our country. But all we can
do about it right now is to rely on your leadership. We ask you find the courage to lead. It is why you
are there.
Sincerely,
~ 100 Student Body Presidents