Editorial | Showing our gratitude

As Ben Franklin once said, an investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.

That was the idea behind the original GI Bill. Enacted in 1944, the legislation covered tuition and other expenses for veterans going to college.

Over the past fifty years however, Congress has scaled back the program to provide a flat payment. According to the Boston Globe, most veterans can currently only receive a maximum of $9,600 per year for four years of education.

That's a problem, considering that the cost of college - both public and private - has skyrocketed. Average prices for public four-year colleges, including room and board, currently hover around $12,000, while average prices for private colleges are well over $30,000.

Luckily, senators in Congress are trying to push through legislation that would help those who have served at least two years of active duty. Known as the "Post 9-11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act" the bill would cover the full cost of a four-year education at any public college in the veteran's state.

Ironically, the bill has stalled because of strong opposition from Department of Veterans Affairs officials, who argue that the legislation may cost too much money to implement. But history has shown that education is a great investment. The original GI bill, for example, helped fuel an era of prosperity and economic growth. And at a time when officials are worried about the affordability of higher education, an updated GI bill would open up the nation's colleges and universities to people from all economic backgrounds.

More importantly, these men and women risk life and limb for our country on a daily basis. The very least they deserve upon returning home is the chance to pursue higher education.

And the very least we can do is pick up the tab.

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