The current student loan controversy and I need a new water heater. Two seemingly unrelated topics, yet with glaring similarities. I recently read an editorial regarding the controversy about large retail outlets coming into communities forcing local retailers out of business. Most argue that it forces low-paying jobs upon communities. As far as jobs go, workers will go from a low-paying job with no benefits with a local retailer to a low-paying job with no benefits with a national retailer. However, the real argument is more that it forces homogeneous products upon society. You can go to any city and find the same products. For a local company to survive, it merely adapts to the competition and competes by providing variety.

I recently returned to Grand Junction from Washington, DC and wanted to purchase something affordable yet unique to DC that didn’t look like something I purchased in Grand Junction, Colorado. Everywhere I went, I could only find the same things I could find here. Every mall had the same stores or the same products. If I wanted something different, I had to pay a premium of which I was unwilling to pay.

What does that have to do with me needing a water heater? My friend, Kent Stine, that lives around the corner, is a real handy man. He can go to Home Depot and purchase a water heater and install it himself. I cannot. I need to go to my local plumber, buy his water heater and pay to have it installed. It will cost me a few dollars more but I am purchasing the security of knowing it is installed correctly and the access to someone if something goes wrong. By buying the less expensive water heater and paying Home Depot to install it, I could save money. I am more secure purchasing from a local dealer. In this situation, I am willing to pay a premium for something that fits my needs. I have a choice.

What in the world does any of this have to do with the student loan controversy? The way student loans are administered at my college will not work at every other college. Forcing homogeneous loan processing will actually create more barriers to college for students.

It is unarguable that there are large amounts of money being made in the realm of post-secondary education. Why else would newspapers print editorials about it or individuals attempt to further political careers by pushing financial aid agendas? We cannot allow all of our financial aid offices to be run like big box stores. It may work for some but not all. We must stand united in our diversity. Whether you are from a large school or small school, whether you are a government employee or private loan employee, you have the commitment to help a person succeed in obtaining an education. We all go about it differently but share the same goal.
In the movie Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, a small child asks Morgan Freeman, “Did God paint you?”, to which Morgan Freeman replies, “Did God paint me? Why yes, Allah loves wondrous variety.”