Most college students live on pretty tight means. Loans build up, but we can comfort ourselves because by the time those lenders are demanding money, we’ll have a great job. Right?

Today’s job market isn’t as promising as any of us had hoped when we set foot on SIUC’s campus. And we know it won’t take long for lenders to be knocking on our doors after we turn those tassels.

For some of us, the alternative will be picking up another major. Some will enroll in graduate school to extend the time in school and get a little more qualified in the process.’

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The Daily Egyptian is heartened to see that President Barack Obama sees the plight college students are in and has moved to help.

We aren’t as qualified as everyone out there, so getting jobs is hard when no one is expanding.

But college is so expensive, taking out more loans and biding our time may fail in the end, too, even if it is the best option right now.

Obama’s budget will make Pell Grants – grants for low-income students – adjust with inflation. The cost of the grant will change as it needs to, and recipients won’t owe anything later like with a loan.

He would move for the government to stop subsidizing loans – or paying the interest accumulated while the student is still in school. Instead, that money would go to Pell Grants, where he thinks students need it most.

The Daily Egyptian thinks these are brilliant and considerate ideas. Other proposed legislation, such as regulating the price of textbooks to be more affordable, is exactly what students in this country need.

At a time when jobs are scarce, the government should feel an obligation to help the unemployed go back to school while the economy is boosted and jobs are created.

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It’s going to take more than just a shove to get this economy up and going again.

It’s going to take all our strength, and the Daily Egyptian thinks Obama’s strategies must be extreme if our country is to get back on the road again.