A team is only as good as its weakest player. In other words, a team cannot be great with only a few skilled players; only a team made entirely of talented athletes can be successful. This sports cliché is often overused and even preached, as if it were a verse from the Bible. Despite its overuse, this saying is not applicable only to the athletic world.
Moreover, America can be thought of as a team; a team that strives to be the best in the world, a team that strives to have economic prosperity and a team that endorses equality for all of its members. However, according to The New York Times, only 65.9 percent of 2013’s high school graduating class attended college. Of CHS’s 2014 graduating class, 8 percent of last year’s graduating class at Carmel enrolled in a two-year college or trade school. This begs the question, what about the other 34.1 percent, the 34.1 percent of our American “team” that didn’t attend college? How are these players contributing to the American “team”? Well, if any sports coach were asked how our “team” could become great once again, they would respond by saying, “train the unskilled players.” Clearly, America is a team that is comprised of only 65.9 percent skilled players. In other words, 65.9 percent of Americans cannot carry our entire “team.” We must focus our attention on the increasingly important minority, the other 34.1 percent of our “team.”
This is exactly what President Barack Obama proposed in his State of the Union address on Jan. 28. In the address, Obama announced his plan to allow high school graduates the option of attending two years of community college free of charge, as long as they have at least a 50 percent attendance rate and maintain a GPA of 2.5. This means the federal government would cover three-fourths of the cost of the students’ education and states that choose to participate in the program would provide the remaining funds. Coach Obama is making an attempt to train his unskilled players and better his team, but first, he has to get Americans to agree to his plan.
Pell Grants, money the government provides for students who need it to pay for college that does not have to be repaid, do exist to allow underprivileged students the opportunity to attend college, but these awards simply do not account for all Americans. For example, many middle class families that do not qualify for these awards, still do not have the money to send their children to college, leaving higher education is simply out of reach. Obama’s program would give every student the opportunity to further his or her education, not just the wealthy or underprivileged students. This could even the playing field and allow all members of the American “team” to better their skills.
However, another important question still looms ominously over Americans’ heads and wallets: Where will the government obtain the funds to send millions of students to community college? Most citizens believe the funding will come through an increase in taxes. For some, the thought of tax increases to pay for other people’s children to go to college is horrifying.  Carmel is a fortunate community in which 87 percent of graduates last year were able to attend a four-year college. However, this is not the case for all American communities. Obviously an increase in taxes is no reason to celebrate, but Americans and Carmel residents alike must realize that this would not be a burdensome tax to pay for college; rather, it would be a tax to create a better America.
The economic strength of America is entirely dependent upon the education and skills of its workers. In fact, in the coming years, jobs requiring at least an associate degree are projected to grow twice as fast as those requiring no college experience. If Americans vote to proceed with Obama’s community college plan, 9 million young Americans with associate degrees could potentially fill these jobs and subsequently increase the strength of America’s economy and the success of the “team” as a whole.
It is imperative that Americans realize the effects a program like this could have on the nation. Not only will it benefit the millions of students, who will have access to higher education, but also it will allow the cultivation of a more productive, successful and educated American “team.” The vote to put Obama’s plan into action must be seen not as a vote specifically for Democrats, or for a few students, but as a vote for the future success of the American team.

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Ally Russell at [email protected].