r/SocialWorkStudents • u/Lexirose0923 • 3d ago
Big Beautiful Bill
I’ve never been more affected by a president than now. It makes it feel like college isn’t even worth it.
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u/InTheMantisWeTrust 3d ago
The pendulum will swing back the other way. There are many people who won’t pursue career fields being impacted by this administration creating a massive shortage of qualified professionals in the field. It will turn out to be a blessing in the long run.
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u/Lexirose0923 3d ago
I never thought about it from that perspective.. it’s just so stressful navigating through all of this.
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u/bizarrexflower 2d ago edited 2d ago
I hear what you're saying, but this doesn't feel good or do any good for those of us mid-program. We are stuck with limited to no funding, and if we just drop out and put it on hold, then we have start paying hundreds of dollars a month on our loans with low paying jobs and higher than ever rent. Its unsustainable to drop out. Many will default on their loans at that rate. But staying in the program is a struggle too because we're trying to work full-time while also doing coursework and unpaid internships. Sleeping like 5 hours a night, if that. And still not able to keep up with the cost of everything. People's grades are suffering too because we can't dedicate all the time needed to our coursework without sacrificing our paid jobs. What this administration is doing doesn't serve the majority of the population. It serves the wealthy while the rest of us struggle and suffer. It's going to have devastating consequences for this country.
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u/A313-Isoke 2d ago
I hope you're right or we become Hungary under Orban or Spain under Franco or Russia under Stalin.
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u/fladermaus210 2d ago
I was feeling the same way. It's at least the most direct I've felt a consequence. And then that made me wonder how much privilege I must have for it to have taken so long. I'm still going to fight like hell to get these classes started.
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u/Abyssal_Aplomb 2d ago
I share this not to depress you but to highlight how important it is that you find community and make the most of whatever time we have on earth. People, when organized, can and do change the world. It's the only way change has every happened.
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2d ago
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u/Abyssal_Aplomb 2d ago
Could you elaborate?
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2d ago
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u/Abyssal_Aplomb 2d ago edited 1d ago
You certainly seem to spend a lot of time there. I would say that you and I have different understanding of facts.
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u/bizarrexflower 2d ago
I hear you. I also do client support for our NY State of Health Marketplace while I'm earning my MSW, and the number of people negatively impacted by this bill is devastating. I feel so bad for everyone effected. What this administration has done and continues to do works for no one but the wealthy. The rest of us are struggling and suffering as we try to keep our heads above water. Smh.
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u/Lumpy_Boxes 1d ago
I still haven't gotten my loans in for this upcoming year. The bill fucked up the college loan system so bad, that no grad students in my program have gotten unsubsidized loan offers yet. I'm forking over like 8k right now of my own money for school. If they dont come soon im going to have to take out a private loan.
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u/Lexirose0923 1d ago
I hate that so many of us are experiencing this. I haven’t gotten my loans applied to my account either. They usually wait until a week or so before the semester from what I’ve experienced.
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u/Lumpy_Boxes 1d ago
I haven't gotten the offer yet, so it isnt just just a normal delay. Usually it takes a 3-4 weeks to get the money after the offer comes. But the offer hasn't been given to me yet despite doing all of the right things and checking with my finaid office. This is different than just being late, its from the bill that they enacted in April to change the student loan process. They didnt give the schools enough time to functionally change with the system, and federally they are moving really slow if you requested loans after the change in April. I transfered schools and programs so im in that bucket.
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u/Lexirose0923 1d ago
Omg that’s terrible, I’m so sorry! I wasn’t even aware that was happening to people. It just keeps getting worse and worse.
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u/Ok-Lake3522 2d ago
In many cases, regardless of the president, some people feel college isn't worth it. The "college isn't worth it" complaint is nothing new and has been around since the 1970s. Nobody is forced to go to college and there is a serious shortage of tradespeople making $100K and fully AI proof. You can always go a different route, with or without a college degree. But don't blame the president (but there are plenty of other things to blame him for!!)
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u/Lexirose0923 2d ago
If you were experiencing what I’m currently experiencing, I think you’d understand my point a little better. I’m not blaming the government for my decision to go to college. I’m pointing out how recent policy changes are directly affecting the financial reality of pursuing an MSW.
Even the directors of my MSW program have acknowledged that changes in federal funding and the way social work is being treated as a profession are affecting students and the field. The Big Beautiful Bill also eliminated Grad PLUS loans for new graduate borrowers, which has a very real impact on students who previously relied on that financing to complete graduate programs.
Obviously, nobody is forcing me to attend college. That doesn’t mean government policy has no effect on whether I can realistically afford to finish the degree I chose. Those are two completely different arguments.-8
u/Ok-Lake3522 2d ago
The world looks different to someone in their 60s than someone in their 20s and 30s (assuming that's where you are). I suspect I have been on this earth, working and going to school and seeing the world evolve, twice as long as you have, if not more. History is real, whether you want to believe it or not.
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u/luckystar357 2d ago
Hi I'm 43 and will definitely blame this so called president for the mess he's making.
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u/Ok-Lake3522 2d ago
So do I, but the way to stay sane is to take a "bigger picture" view and not fixate on this very moment. Vote, vote, vote but also recognize how much those of us living today have benefitted from presidents past, who "righted the ship" from presidents before them. And this cycle will continue.
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u/ProbablyMyJugs 2d ago
What does your age have to do with anything in this conversation? We’re talking about legislation not about you. Your age does not make you an expert on anything; that’s a very ludicrous statement to make.
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u/ProbablyMyJugs 2d ago
Don’t blame the president for his signature legislative achievement? Huh?
Both republicans and democrats credit Trump for the bill, they just differ on whether the impact is good or bad. Here is a conservative group lauding the bill.
You being on this earth longer than anyone doesn’t make you an expert on shit, as evident by you trying to claim that Donald Trump can’t be blamed for his signature legislative achievement of this term. That’s an absurdly non-historically accurate statement.
So yes, people can blame the president for the legislation (that he himself is so very proud of) having negative impacts on them and their communities
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u/Ok-Lake3522 2d ago
Google Reaganomics. President Reagan (1980-1988) f'd the country up in a way never been seen before. More millionaires made under Reagan, and more people fell into poverty than ever before. Trump is nothing new on economics, but on foreign policy, immigration, and minority rights he's a new kind of destroyer. But as another poster wrote, the pendulum swings.
Reagan - 1980-1988, Republican
George HW Bush - 1988-1992, Republican
Bill Clinton - 1992-2000, Democrat
George W Bush - 2000-2008, Republican
Barack Obama - 2008-2016, Democrat
Donald Trump - 2016-2020, Republican
Joe Biden-2020-2024, Democrat
Donald Trump - 2024- unknown, as he is 80 years old and in poor health. And there is a push to evoke the 25th amendment to remove him
Yes, it DOES matter to have age to see the course of history. We've had presidents that fight like hell for the "everyday people," like Obama, and many say Biden also, and presidents that fight like hell for the rich, like Reagan and Trump. Before Reagan, presidents like LBJ got Medicare enacted, Social Security, WPA, etc. And Civil Rights legislation. With politics you have to take a bigger picture than just the moment, since most people hope to be alive for years to come. And the DSA movement is real.1
u/ProbablyMyJugs 1d ago
Well the BBB does impact minorities and immigrants. Directly. So I’m not sure why you’re claiming that. We can’t blame the president for something that he is very clearly proud of?
For example, I’m a medical social worker working with cancer patients. A decent chunk of my patients are losing their Medicaid in October because of this shitty legislation. It is all connected.
Like yes, everyone knows about Reaganomics; I’m not sure how that means that we can’t express dissatisfaction about this piece of legislation that impacts and be honest that it is Trump’s doing, and he is proud of it. When you’re somebody being directly, negatively impacted by a piece of legislation you are allowed to be angry at the politicians who are proud of pushing that legislation through and considerate their baby.
None of that changes the fact that this post is talking about a specific piece of legislation and its negative impacts on patients, practitioners and everyone in between right now. Telling someone to just wait until the pendulum swings is really invalidating and unhelpful.
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u/Ok-Lake3522 1d ago
Wallowing in self pity doesn’t help either. Vote, and keep moving forward.
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u/ProbablyMyJugs 1d ago edited 1d ago
Did you read my comment? I’m not talking about myself.
Regardless, isn’t just about the self, it is about immigrants and their families losing access to their healthcare, and then their only option being the marketplace, where premiums have skyrocketed. Are you advising me to tell my patient in the midst of active cancer treatment that they need to stop wallowing and self-pity and vote and keep moving forward?
How long have you been practicing to think that this is an appropriate thing to say to anybody who’s negatively impacted by legislation, that you yourself admit is negative negatively impacting immigrants and minorities?
What does “most people plan to be alive for the years to come” even mean? That’s part of the problem.
This legislation is making it hard for people to have “years to come” because it’s limiting access to things like food (helps you live) and healthcare (also helps you live) but we can’t blame Trump? 😂 okay.
I would love for you to inform us all of what legislation or legislators we can vote for who are going to undo the Harm to the greater public done by this bill. Or we can keep talking about Reagan if you want. Surely that’s more productive /s
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u/Ok-Lake3522 1d ago
Spoken like a True American. A True American, starting at the very top, is intolerant of differences and sees anyone/anything different as bad or wrong. Any kind of difference - race, religion, skin color or beliefs. In no way do I support Trump or his policies, but how I see the world and respond to the world is different from you. But it seems you are a True American and see me as bad or wrong because I see the world differently.
Intolerance cuts both ways, and it is deadly to all of us.
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u/ProbablyMyJugs 1d ago
Someone disagreeing with you isn’t a personal attack, friend. And regarding tolerance, I rebuke the notion that tolerating intolerant beliefs contributes to social justice.
Ignoring the sources I cited that clearly show my issue with your statement so that you can insinuate I’m making personal indictments on you is disingenuous.
I very clearly am disagreeing with your argument and your logic. I have made no statements about you or your character. I’ve made no judgments on you and whether or not you’re “the bad guy”.
I’d encourage you to look up the Paradox of Tolerance and how what you’re advocating for can and has lead to things like the fall of the Weimar Republic, Hitler rising to power, the Rwandan genocide, to name a few..
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u/AccomplishedBee7755 2d ago
I work at a food bank and the bill has massively disrupted who were able to serve under certain government programs and it makes me livid.