Tune in to FM

FM

Frequency module?  Funny man? Furry mutt?  The definitions could go on for days.  What I mean when I say FM is, Futures Matter.

Did you know in the USA any teen over the age of 16 charged with a drug crime is ineligible for financial aid for college?  Did you know these kids can't get any form of grant or loan from the FAFSA?  Did you know these kids who can't attend college often end up on the street, dealing drugs, on public assistance or in jail?  Did you know that if you, as a parent or guardian pay for their schooling, if they have a drug crime you can't take advantage of any tax breaks for this student? 

I don't know how much this costs to stay on top of the crimes these children are likely to commit or the lifestyle they are likely to lead.  I do know that  housing one inmate for four years costs more than a four year tuition, room and board at a public university, and well more than a 2 year community college degree or certificate.

We need to do something.  These are not bad kids with no futures.  We sentence them to lives on the edge by taking away that ray of hope; education.  I don't believe any teenager wakes up dreaming of going to prison, selling drugs, prostitution, living on the streets or so many more horrible things.  I believe ever single child, every single one matters.  I believe that futures matter.

We as a nation need to take a strong stance on drug crimes for teens and young adults up to 25 with no prior degree or certificate.

These kids deserve a chance.  Just because Jeffy had marijuana in his backpack at school does not mean it was his.  Maybe Jeffy is a bit nerdy, he's been helping the star football player, Tony with homework.  Jeffy is an outstanding student.  The star football player has a full ride scholarship lined up, things are coming up roses.  Things are great, until the day the drug dogs come to the school.  Tony knows he will get busted for that bag of weed in his backpack, he sits next to Jeffy and drops it in his backpack.  Jeffy gets caught.  Jeffy comes from the projects, his parents barely scrape by, they can't afford a lawyer, they can't afford the court fees, they can't afford the court ordered drug tests, they can't afford the fees and fines.  Jeffy suffers.  Jeffy now has the light out of his life because he was 17 and just caught drug charges.  No one has his back.

Later on Jeffy wants to go to school to become a computer programmer, he's filling out the FAFSA, then he hits the line where they ask about drug crimes.  Just drug crimes.  Not rape, not assault, nothing violent.  Only drug charges are covered.  Jeffy realizes he has no future and gives up.  Jeffy now costs the tax payers thousands of dollars per month.  Why not let Jeffy get a grant or a scholarship, invest in Jeffy.  Let Jeffy become part of the working class, let Jeffy feel his worth.

I think we need to start a movement to remove that question from the FAFSA.  I think all people under the age of 25 who are not serious repeat offenders deserve a chance.  I would rather my tax dollars to to get Jeffy a diploma or certificate for a good career.  I would rather Jeffy have self worth, be a tax payer and feel pride that his past didn't hold him back.


True, some of these kids do buy, sell and use drugs, but not all of them do.  Some of them are victims of convenience and circumstance.  Some of them may have had one weak moment, or maybe they gave a ride home to the wrong person, with this person planting drugs in the car out of spite.  This happens.  We need reform for things that matter.  We need reform for the future of our children, who are the future of our nation.  Too many people are in jail for drug crimes, because that's all they've ever had, they couldn't break out.  Too many young people lose it all in one stupid moment.

If we can keep kids in school, off the streets and out of the welfare cycle, doesn't it benefit all of us?