Feb. 15, 2026, 5:01 a.m. ET
Ignoring student loan crisis risks insolvency
Table of Contents
The student loan bankruptcy ban violates the Constitution’s Uniformity Clause.
Per the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous Siegel v. Fitzgerald ruling (2022), it treats student debtors differently from gamblers or credit card users based on artificial distinctions.
This “moral hazard” has created nearly $1.8 trillion in toxic, non-performing assets, fueling tuition hyper-inflation (loans are “risk-free” to lenders) and destabilizing the U.S. dollar. Ignoring it risks fiscal insolvency, crashing our fragile power grid amid surging demand, and sparking civil chaos.
Congress must pass “Middleman Elimination” reforms: Reinstate bankruptcy uniformity, abolish the Department of Education middleman (and the Dept of Ed while you’re at it) and extend this principle to healthcare.
PolkCare is “free” but costs taxpayers less due to lack of middlemen, remember?
Gordon Watts, Plant City
Elected representatives need a backbone
When are our elected representatives going to get a backbone and stop this madness?
Our country is being torn apart and demolished. Law means nothing. Armed people are in our streets killing American citizens. What about our cost of living?
This is not making America great again. Innocent people are being rounded up and deported. Many families are being torn apart, not only by the authorities, but by the rhetoric in Washington, DC.
Shame on our representatives. And shame on Grady Judd for blaming the victim because he was legally carrying a gun and never touched it or threatened anyone with it. Stop defending the Second Amendment and then turn around and say it’s illegal to carry a gun in an open carry state, protest or not.
Where are our real leaders? Not in Washington, DC., Tallahassee or Polk County. Who are the “Christians” who feel that being an adulterer, being a pal of sleazy people, carrying hatred everywhere, attacking countries, tearing down our institutions, calling people names are fit to lead this country?
Where is the Golden Rule? It too has been wiped out. You are not a Christian if you support this unholy administration. God help us all.
Patricia Turner, Winter Haven
Republicans are complicit with abuse of power
The Republican Party is complicit with the president’s abuse of power:
- They approved unqualified Trump loyalist to lead critical agencies such as the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, the FBI and Treasury.
- Said nothing when Trump pardoned all 1,500-plus Jan. 6 insurrectionists — including violent people who attacked police officers.
- Were silent as the president attacked our Constitution’s separation of powers — appropriating Congress’ power of the purse.
- Stand silent while ICE tramples our Constitutional freedoms and due process.
- Continue to be silent as ICE physically attacks and murders American citizens.
Vote them out! We need Congressmen with backbone who actually serve the American people.
Charles Warren, Bartow
Demand an end to the lawlessness of government
Along with the unimaginable violence and ICE’s wanton acts of inhumanity, this is what is happening.
People, following our immigration laws and processes, are being dragged away as they leave the immigration hearings they are required to attend. If we tolerate this lawless and brutal behavior we are perpetuating it.
Don’t wait to act until it happens to someone you care about. Start by emailing or calling your senators and representatives. Simply say “I want ICE off our streets. As my Senator/Representative I’d like to know what you are doing to make that happen and stop the brutality.”
Then, get as involved as much as you want yourself and your kids to live in a free and lawful America. Democracy does not self sustain. Use it or lose it.
Danette May, Lakeland
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date: 2026-02-15 10:32:00
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