President Barack Obama has pledged to be one of the most open Presidents in American history. To show that he is both tech savvy and willing to hear the comments from all American citizens, he’s transformed WhiteHouse.gov into a blog-style website. The new style of the site comes complete with a contact form where you can send a message to the White House with the hope that President Obama will actually read it.
The link for that portion of the White House’s website may be found by clicking here. I hope that Americans really take this opportunity to send messages to the White House to talk about the things that are affecting them everyday. Personally, I’ve sent two messages to the White House so far – both of them dealing with a tax issue related to student loans.
For those of you who have student loans, you’ll know that you can deduct the interest paid on your loans on your taxes. The problem is that you can only deduct up to $2,500 per tax year. Well hey, if you have massive student loan debt, you may be paying upwards of $5,000 or $6,000 per year in interest alone!
If you’re out there in the world and making good money, but are saddled with gigantic student loan debt, you know that being able to deduct the entire amount of interest paid on student loans would be a great way to put more dollars back in the pockets of the working class…the very people who would not have been able to attend college if it were not for those loans. So this is what I’ve been sending Obama – that you can go ahead and fix the economy, but if people with massive student loan debt are still spending an exorbitant portion of their income on this interest, then fixing the economy won’t matter.
One way to mitigate this problem is allowing Borrowers to deduct the entire amount of their student loan interest. If you agree, here is a short message that you, too, can send to the White House on the contact page listed above:
Tax policies should be revised so that 100% of annual interest paid on student loans can be deducted on personal taxes. Many Borrowers with high student loan debts pay a high portion of their annual, post-tax income as interest on student loans. Currently, only $2,500 may be deducted annually. Borrowers with larger student loan debts routinely pay upwards of $5,000 each year in interest. Allowing the total amount of interest paid to be deducted will better position these citizens in the economy.
You’ll see that you can only submit 500 characters worth of a message to the White House (which makes sense). The italicized blurb above is 500 characters on the dot. So if this is something that you can agree with, please copy and paste the text above into the contact form on the White House website!
That is very republican of you. Where are your bootstraps you are pulling yourself up by? Hypocrite!
Your comment is so wrought with insanity that I have no idea where to begin responding. Cheers!
I’m a Realtor in Madison WIsconsin. I have listed a home where the client has a loan with USDA-RH which is under the US Department of Agriculture. She spoke 4 differnt representatives of that company. The last one told her to just sell it. We got an offer and USDA-RH sent us the payout. We could not close at that time because the Buyer’s lender need more time. When we set up a later closing date the USDA-RH would not give us a pay out. We have a willing and able Buyer, we have a seller that is ready and willing and will have to be foreclosed on if something is not done soon. Is there anyway you can help her? Please email me and I will give you more info. Thank you, Kathy Morrow
[...] lenders or celebrate small successes. In fact, one of the things that I try to be active about is advocating for better federal legislation to help those who are in serious student loan [...]
4/29/09
Health Care, Credit/Company Nasty Crunch
From: MaC, Carbondale, CO
Does anybody out there CARE??
I just had a really dirty deal pulled on me by Bank of America.
Background: We went into serious debt a year and three months ago
when I slipped on ice, shattering a leg. Being at an in-between in employment,
thus working part time, and my husband being self employed, I was uninsured.
I’ve worked conscientiously to pay things off on payment plans, and have
sought any assistance I could find. However, the hospital bill was so much
that I had to put it on a long term plan, that would increase by $10,000.00; at 12% interest. My past year contained two surgeries, and other extended treatments
to save my leg. In the midst of it all, I carried the burden of trying to
work out finances, so we wouldn’t lose everything we’ve worked for.
When Bank of America sent me an offer, in November, for 0% until
Sept. 2009, we decided that it would save a lot to put the hospital bill
there, to save the interest, and do something later, like refinancing our house.
At the same time all this was happening, my mother passed on; leaving no
more parents. This gave me a burning awareness of need to visit aging friends and family, in Canada. Along with that, after months of treatments and healing, I’ve been worn out, and have been excited about an opportunity, a Canadian cousin opened the way for, to spend time this summer, in my homeland of Canada (and yes, as one of my Aunts told me on the phone about my accident: “On dear, you did that in the wrong country). The trip is being financed as a family gift. I was going to pay for everything using my bank debit/Visa card. However, my bank advised me that I should have a strong credit card as back up. I didn’t realize, when moving my hospital bill (paid on monthly) that it would totally tie up my available credit; that I would be spoken to, as I have been, like I’m some kind of irresponsible person for having that much debt. I’ve worked earnestly,
paying and communicating with Bank of America, to clear debt in another account, to use as my backup. That account, which I had my physical therapy on, is down to $3, 428.48. Two weeks ago, I was assured, by a Sr. Credit Analyst, that they would not lower my line of credit if I sent a large payment to that account. So, in good faith, I sent $2,000.00 to that account, for my travel. That brought my line of credit in that account to $2,771.52. That’s what it was when I checked on it this morning. However, in the midst of this day, another Sr. Credit Analyst informed me that I have too much debt, and lowered my line of credit to $171.52. Thus robbing me of $2,000.00, that I would have in my own account, if I hadn’t trusted what I was told, and sent the money. What a sad day in our
country when we can’t trust what people promise any more
why do pittbulls have to go they have the best sniffers for drugs and people.People use them for jobs like handy cap dogs blind peoplethem .They were wrong about pittbulls they were never made for fights they were made for love and memories.
hey im so glad your our president your such a good person you have the most beutifull kids and wife .i bet your a really happy man … you have came very far and we are so proud that you are our president i wanted to ask you if you could do me a big favor it would mean the world to me i am trying to get my life off to a fresh start i been trying to find a job and a appartment but its very hard to make it in this word whith out a car i havent had that much in life and imm trying to better my self please president obama could you help me get a car it would mean every thing to me im ready to start collage and get my self together hope to hear from you love always your biggest fan amber
I am 10 years old and I’m liveing preity rogh in these hard times. my life was ruend by drugs and drinking, so if you would make a no smoking or drinking week
Mrs.President u need to take a trip to east texas and see how the countys down here cover up for eachother these jails these laws and judges
Mr. President…I try my best to work for you in the east Tx. area. I’m 54 yrs old and finally got approved for ssdisability….I thought I worked for a great privately owened company out of oklahoma but had severe spinal problems that ended my career….I was just starting to make a decent income when I just physically couldn’t function. My company made me a package that seemed good on paper but now I found out after receiving my ssdis. my company’s long term policy had clauses that cost me about 14 yrs. of supplement income..This is devastating…I’m a single father that has almost put my son through college by hard work and now I will struggle….How can ins. companies get away with mistreating workers….I never made over $60,000 until this package deal was offered which made my income in 2007 to be $129,000. I noticed I only got credit on social security for $97,000. I was amazed when I found out you only pay ss tax up to $97,000. Why in God’s name can’t you have Americans continue to pay that 6.5% on all income. It would seem that would solve a great deal of our financial problems…The poor and semi middle class have to pay that ss tax on their entire income. I would love to meet you and believe me I have battle scars defending you in such a racists east TX. I am proud to say I converted my 93 yr old grandmother….She adores you, she loves your speeches and despices Fox News. Now my 70 yr old mom is another story(her mind is warped by Fox News)……Thanks…..Benny Bright
MR.OBAMA PLZ! STOP THE WAR! PLZ!
I am a lifelong Democrat , but you have made me Rebublican. You care nothing about the great State of Texas. I have argured for you from day one and now that you are trying to do away with NASA, i am now believing in my Republican friends. I will now campain against you for the next three years or two and a half years. You are not a friend of Texas you have showed that over and over again. I still belive in Democrat, but you are not what i want in the White House. You are a turncoat. I will never support you again and hundreds of thousands of Texas are behind me on this.
oh hi oboma my name is hannah i am a big fan of you and so is my hole family and i’m 7 and i’ve liked you a lot since you where the president and i’m going on a trip this summer to washingtin dc and i might even get to go in the white house
PRESIDENT OBAMA I AM DISABLED AND ONLY GET $615.00 A MONTH YOU ARE WANTING TO RAISE OUR SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE PREMIUMS, I ALREADY CANNOT BUY FOOD, LIGHTS, PHONE, RENT NOT EVEN A PAIR OF NEW SHOES WHERE IS THE COST OF LIVING SUPPLEMENT CHECK WE WERE GOING TO GET HERE IT IS ALMOST MARCH AND NO EXTRA MONEY. JUST PLEASE THINK OF US AS YOU BAIL OUT THOSE BIG BASTARD CORPORATIONS, WHO HAVE MADE MORE MONEY THEN MOST OF US HAVE OR WILL EVER SEE IN OUR LIFE TIME. AS YOU GO TO BED AT NIGHT SNUG AS A BUG IN A RUG IN THE BIG WHITE HOUSE JUST TAKE OF MINUTE AND THINK ABOUT US THAT ARE DISBALED THAT YOU HAVE STOLEN FROM TO GIVE AWAY (BAIL OUT) MY ASS. WHERE IS MY BAIL OUT MONEY?????????????????
I AM GOING TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT SO WE CAN GET ANOTHER MINORITY BACK IN THERE. There is always something brought up about blacks and blaming us for stuff that happened way back. Who you say are minority is untruthful. They call discrimination on anything and we have to give them more jobs in our workforce. It should be based on qualifications not because the government says they have to have so many. No wonder why people hate the government and the president. Get over stuff from way back. We are supposed to be equal right?. Help out our own people instead of giving to other countries all the time. Street smart people is what we need in the white house. Where the hell is white history month. Hey obama, why dont you come visit me and have a debate since you can spend money on everything else. Remember that movie DAVE? Think about it, or are you chicken? Yea, I know this letter probably won’t even reach you, but if anybody can get it there, please do. I am sick and tired of all this bull shit.
MR OBAMA IS MAKING THINGS WORSER THAN HOW THEY ALREADY ARE OH AND mr obama INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT DON’THAVE ILEAGLE PAPERS YOU SHOULD FOUCS ON THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DRUGS SAVED IN THEIR HOMES BUT NO ALL YOUR DOING IS TRYING TO THINK YOU HAVE EVERYTHING ALSO YOU SAID ALOT OF GOOD THINGS WHEN WE WER
CHOOSING THE PRESIDENT BUT YOU DIDN’T DO ANY THING OF WHAT YOU SAID