Broken promises, broken lives
The US Department of Education is killing public service
We told them a decade ago
“Work for the downtrodden
Your debt will be forgiven”
Teach the young, fight crime
Care for those who need you
Represent those who can’t
Navigate our country’s systems
Help them represent themselves
Teach the littlest ones to care
Show off nature’s wonders
Go into the military, fight fires
Help the elderly and disabled
Feel less forgotten, less alone
Teach the children to love a book
Live for people, not for money
Make the world a better place
We told them. Live for others,
We’ll make it work for you
Pay ten years of college debt
The rest will be forgiven
We promise 120 payments
Will be lowered so you can live
Keep us informed of changes
Your grateful country will
Forgive unpaid college debt
But those in power now don’t
Give anything back to anyone
They don’t care about promises
Money being power, it shouldn’t
Be shared nor debts forgiven
In light of this change, the DOE
Wants to pretend this promise
Never happened. Go away
They say — No decisions have been
Made, none will for years yet
They say no debts have been forgiven
Maybe none ever will. So what?
We promised you, but that was then
This is now. We don’t think forgiveness
A good idea, nor service either
You made decisions based on our
Promises? Too bad. You need to
Make it on your own. Can’t do that?
Sorry! Should have thought of that
Before deciding life is more than money
Inspired by NPR’s piece “New Fears For Public Service Loan Forgiveness”
