9/11: 34 Facts The Media Won't Discuss And The Sheeple Don't Want to Know

9/11: 34 Facts The Media Won't Discuss And The Sheeple Don't Want to Know

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9/11: 34 FACTS THE MEDIA WON'T DISCUSS AND THE SHEEPLE DON'T WANT TO KNOW
Original Source: www.toronto911truth.com/qkfacts.html
Republished at: ironboltbruce.com
11 September 2011

Fact 1) Steel-Framed Buildings Don't Collapse Due To Fires.

WTC buildings 1, 2, and 7 were the first to collapse by fire. Some may argue
that there have been collapses in the past, but they fail to point out the
differences. The WTC buildings all collapsed in a manner resembling
controlled demolition - at free fall speeds and in their own footprints.
[The organization Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth documents this
fully in their film 911: Blueprint for Truth: The Architecture of
Destruction, which is included on our list on the VIDEO TESTIMONY page.]

Fact 2) WTC 7 Collapses From A Few Small Fires.

Fires that really never started until about 3pm caused WTC 7, a 47 story
steel framed building [an emergency bunker that was vacated earlier that
day], to collapse in it's own foot print. Observing the available video
footage, you will see what looks like all core columns collapsing
simultaneously - evidence. Facts surrounding this event were left out of the
9/11 Commission Report - WTC 7 is often referred to as "the smoking gun".
WTC 7 housed the offices of the CIA, FBI and other federal branches.
[Incidentally, all records involving investigations of government and
wallstreet fraud were destroyed.]

Fact 3) Explosions Going Off At Ground Zero.

Literally hundreds of eyewitness heard and saw numerous explosions at Ground
Zero, including an explosion in Tower 1 seconds before the first plane hit.
There were reports of explosions at the base of the towers before they fell.
Many of these eyewitnesses were seen live on TV as events unfolded and in
some cases it was reported that there may have been preplanted explosives at
the site of the attack.

Fact 4) Crime Scene Violated.

The WTC steel [if fully examined, could have revealed the effects of
explosives] was quickly placed on ships and shipped over seas and melted
down. This was an unprecedented violation of federal crime scene laws.

Fact 5) WTC Security Shuts Down One Week Prior To 9/11.

For the first time in the history of the twin towers, a power down occurs
one week before the events of 9/11 occurred. This power down was for
computer up grades [no security cameras] and allowed numerous people to walk
freely within the buildings and for whatever reason, bomb-sniffing dogs were
removed.

Fact 6) Bush's Brother In Charge Of Security At The WTC.

Marvin P. Bush, the president's younger brother, was a principal in a
company called Securacom that provided security for the World Trade Center,
United Airlines, and Dulles International Airport. According to its present
CEO, Barry McDaniel, the company had an ongoing contract to handle security
at the World Trade Center up to the day the buildings fell down.

Fact 7) Outspoken John O'Neil Dies At Ground Zero.

Former FBI Deputy Director John O'Neill, who wanted to investigate the
terrorists that were planning to blow up the trade towers on 9/11, was
prevented from doing so by George W. Bush. Disgusted and angry that the Bush
administration was obstructing justice [the media reported] he resigned.
John O'Neill was given a new career as Director of Security at the Trade
Towers in New York City. He died his first day on the job.

Fact 8) Stock Profits From Airlines.

Unidentified insiders made millions from the stocks of American and United
Airlines. These "put options" were made just prior to 9/11. Why haven't
these transactions been traced and publicized?

Fact 9) Many Warnings Of Attack.

There were many warnings of the attacks from at least 11 other countries.
Insiders such as John Ashcroft, top military officers and San Francisco
mayor Willie Brown were warned not to fly. With these warnings, the air
defense system (NORAD) should have been on full alert - what was going on
here? See the next few facts...

Fact 10) Air Defense System Fails Completely.

Whenever contact is lost with an airplane, fighter jets routinely take to
the air to investigate. This is standard procedure and all pilots and NORAD
personnel have orders to treat every occurrence as a real threat. This
commonly occurs about 100 times a year and jets intercept their targets on
average in about 10 to 20 minutes. But on 9/11, nearly 2 hours passed with
no interceptions.

Fact 11) New Commander For NORAD.

The North American Air Defense system (NORAD) had a first in its history
since its creation. Six months prior, Vice president Dick Cheney took
control of NORAD. The ex-Haliburton CEO [who still receives a cheque from
them] instigated numerous drills over that period of time including one that
took place on 9/11 where most of the fighter jets were relocated to Alaska
and Canada. [At this point we should add that Haliburton has made obscene
profits from government contracts since 9/11.]

Fact 12) Officials Never Imagined Planes Flying Into Buildings.

Numerous key officials stated to the media that they never could imagine
that planes could have been hijacked and flown into landmark buildings.
Contrary to their statements, air defense and FEMA drills had been conducted
in the past and on 9/11 - exercises for these exact scenarios - in the
drills, the landmark buildings were the ones hit. [Peter Jennings fully
reported this story.]

Fact 13) Resisting An Investigation.

The Bush administration resisted having any kind of investigation for 441
days. Similar investigations, such as those for Pearl Harbor, the JFK
assignation and the shuttle disaster all took place in about a week.
Furthermore, when the 9/11 Commission heads wanted to interview George Bush
and Dick Cheney, they agreed, but did so with these conditions: 1) they were
not to be put under oath; 2) there was not to be any recording; and 3) they
wanted to do it together (to keep their story straight?).

Fact 14) Victims Press For Answers.

Known as the Jersey Girls, 4 courageous widows finally force the 9/11
Commission into existence and presented many questions. Under the leadership
of the Bush administration, 70% of their questions were ignored and the
report failed to address any of the evidence pointing to official
complicity. [The film 911: Press for Truth on the VIDEO TESTIMONY page
documents their story.]

Fact 15) Government Acknowledges Errors.

Even though there has been admission to incompetence in their duty to
protect the American people, many government officials at many levels and
organizations have not been demoted and in some cases, they have been
promoted.

Fact 16) President's Location Highly Publicized.

The Secret Service broke established protocols by allowing President Bush to
remain in a well-publicized classroom "photo op" long after it was known
that the US was under attack and that he may very well be a target. Did they
all know there was nothing to fear? He continued to read to children for 10
minutes after learning of the 2nd plane hitting the WTC. When questioned
about this phenomenon, his reply was that he "didn't want to frighten the
children". Could he have not simply told the children something like, "Hey
kids, something very important has come up and I have to get going!" ???

Fact 17) Key Officials Hoped For 9/11.

In 2000, on their website Project for the New American Century, many of whom
would become key officials in the Bush Administration, wrote that their
proposed massive military build up would proceed slowly "absent some
catastrophic and catalyzing event - like a New Pearl Harbor."

Fact 18) FBI Agents Had Foreknowledge Of Attacks.

David Schippers, noted conservative Chicago lawyer and the House Judiciary
Committee's chief investigator in the Clinton impeachment trial, claims that
FBI agents in Chicago and Minnesota contacted him in July 2001 and told him
that a terrorist attack is going to occur in lower Manhattan. According to
Schippers, the agents had been developing extensive information on the
planned attack for many months. However, the FBI soon pulls them off the
terrorist investigation and threatens them with prosecution under the
National Security Act if they go public with the information. As a result,
they contact Schippers hoping he can persuade the government to take action.
Schippers tries to pass the information on to high government officials, but
his efforts are ignored.

Fact 19) Inexperienced Pilots/Hijackers Displaying Superior Piloting Skills.

The hijacker flying AA Flight 77 could not fly a small aircraft such as the
Cessna he was training in. The documented last few miles of flight 77 (the
Pentagon strike) went something like this... At 9:29 the plane was 35 miles
west of the Pentagon flying at about 7,000 feet. At 9:34 it was about 3.5
miles west-southwest of the Pentagon and started a 330-degree descending
right turn, bringing it to an altitude of about 2000 feet four miles
southwest of the Pentagon. It did an almost complete circle around the
Pentagon. The airliner then dropped to about 50 feet from the ground making
impact (as the few freeze frame photos that were released indicate). All
this without any ground assistance. Ask any experienced Commercial Airline
Pilot if this is possible and he/she would tell you "not a chance" or try it
your self using Microsoft's Flight Simulator which offers both types of
planes mentioned. [We should also mention that the point of impact was under
construction and few pentagon personel were located in that area of the
building - well planned!?!?]

Fact 20) No Evidence Of A Boeing 757 At The Pentagon.

Despite the release of 5 more freeze frame photos (in 2006) of the object
hitting the Pentagon, there was absolutely no proof of a Boeing 757 at the
scene [no luggage, seats, wheels, engines, fuselage, etc., etc.] and the
damage, when viewing the impact area, does not add up. Numerous photographs
and video (rarely seen in mainstream media since 9/11) proves it. [It should
also be noted that FBI agents immediately confiscated videotape from a
nearby gas station and hotel. Government also won't release any of the film
from the numerous cameras surrounding the Pentagon that would clear the air
on this matter... why? Isn't it in there best interest to gain the trust of
The People? They have also told us that the plane incinerated - there is
absolutely no way you can get a turbine engine that runs hot at 1800 Degrees
Fahrenheit to incinerate, specifically when there wasn't much of a fire.]

Fact 21) No Evidence Of A Boeing 757 In PA.

The official story of the Shanksville, PA crash is that the plane
disintegrated and was absorbed by the unusual soil located at the site. The
planes tail is 25 feet from the surface. There is little to no debris, just
a large crater about 40 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep. The entire area
is fenced off and very little has been recovered. Shanksville, PA mayor
Ernie Stull was one of the first at the scene and he stated that, "There was
no plane, just a hole in the ground."

Fact 22) Patriot Act was prewritten before 9/11.

This 300 plus page document dismantles the historic American Bill of Rights
- American FREEDOM! The law was submitted to Congress by the Bush
Administration on September 24th, just 13 days after the attack. Two of the
Senators who attempted to slow passage of the bill, Senate Judiciary
Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle,
were targeted with letters containing weaponized anthrax delivered to their
offices on October 9. Russ Feingold was the only member of the Senate to
vote against it.

Fact 23) No Evidence Bin Laden is behind 9/11.

On June 5, 2006, the Muckraker Report contacted the FBI Headquarters, (202)
324-3000, to learn why Bin Laden's Most Wanted poster did not indicate that
Usama was also wanted in connection with 9/11. The Muckraker Report spoke
with Rex Tomb, Chief of Investigative Publicity for the FBI. When asked why
there is no mention of 9/11 on Bin Laden's Most Wanted web page, Tomb said,
"The reason why 9/11 is not mentioned on Usama Bin Laden's Most Wanted page
is because the FBI has no hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11." Here
is the FBI link to Bin Laden's "Wanted" poster.

Fact 24) The Absence Of Media Integrity. Personal in-depth research is quite
revealing.

The sources of many of these findings come from media reports. Independent
researchers have done something the media fails to do with their own
reporting... and that is connect the dots. This isn't rocket science and the
question of who controls the media must be asked. Anchor men/women are told
what to disclose and media investigators are told what to investigate...
plain and simple. It should be noted that 6 mega corporations control the
worlds media and that many of them are tied into the military industrial
complex and/or oil.

OTHER RELATED

Fact 25) Bush Officials Planned Attacks On Afghanistan And Iraq Before 9/11.

The attacks on America in 2001 were exploited as an excuse for a full-scale
conquest. An oil pipeline deal was prevented by the Taliban, which was one
major black mark against them. The war in Afghanistan officially began in
March, six months before the 9/11 incidents. Yet regime change in
Afghanistan was portrayed as the US response to those incidents. And...
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill told CBS News' 60 Minutes that
the Bush administration began planning to use U.S. troops to invade Iraq
within days after the former Texas governor entered the White House. The
oilman no doubt had big plans in advance.

Fact 26) False Flag Operations.

False flag operations are covert operations conducted by governments,
corporations, or other organizations, which are designed to appear as if
they are being carried out by other entities. See how similar Operation
Northwoods is to 9/11. The unclassification of the document was also
reported by ABC News on May 1st 2001.

Fact 27) The Grand Chessboard.

Jimmy Carter's NSA director, Zbigniew Brzezinski, wrote in his 1996 book,
The Grand Chessboard of how mobilising troops in key oil strategic regions
of Eurasia would be difficult unless an event like a New Pearl Harbour were
to take place. On February 1 2007, Brzezinski publicly stated that the
neocons could blame a terror attack on Iran and lead us to another
precarious position.

Fact 28) A Nuclear Bomb Next?

On February 13 2008, President George W. Bush declared, "At this moment,
somewhere in the world, terrorists are planning new attacks on our country.
Their goal is to bring destruction to our shores that will make September
the 11th pale by comparison."

Fact 29) New Powers Granted to Government since 9/11.

The Defense Authorization Act of 2006, passed on Sept. 30, empowers
President George W. Bush to impose martial law in the event of a terrorist
"incident," if he or other federal officials perceive a shortfall of "public
order," or even in response to antiwar protests that get unruly as a result
of government provocations. In 2003, General Tommy Franks stated that, "If
the United States is hit with a weapon of mass destruction that inflicts
large casualties, the Constitution will likely be discarded in favor of a
military form of government." - Martial Law!

Fact 30) Dictatorial Powers Granted.

The National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive, signed
on May 9, 2007 declares that in the event of a "catastrophic event", George
W. Bush can become what is best described as "a dictator". "The President
shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for ensuring
constitutional government." This directive, completely unnoticed by the
media, and given no scrutiny by Congress, literally gives the White House
unprecedented dictatorial power over the government and the country,
bypassing the US Congress and obliterating the separation of powers. The
directive also placed the Secretary of Homeland Security in charge of
domestic "security". It will permit the Federal Emergency Management Agency
to force the detention of American citizens (as well as Canadians under the
new security arrangements) in total violation of the constitution.

Fact 31) The Reichstag Fire.

Hitler's move to suspend the constitution after burning his own Reichstag
and pinning it on the communists, allowing him to crackdown on "liberal
intellectuals, socialists, communists, and anyone who promoted the notion of
rule of law, is frighteningly similar to what has been happening in both
Canada and the U.S. following the events of 9/11.

Fact 32) Bush Dynasty Started with Financing the Nazis.

"George Bush's grandfather, the late US senator Prescott Bush, was a
director and shareholder of companies that profited from their involvement
with the financial backers of Nazi Germany." Reported by the United
Kingdom's Guardian Newspaper.

Fact 33) New Government Policies Since 9/11.

Canada follows along with US government policies that include: The invasion
of two countries resulting in the deaths, maiming and injury of well over a
million Iraqis, Afghans, Canadians, Americans and many others; the detention
of people on mere suspicion; unfettered wiretapping and surveillance of the
populace; ballooning budget of our militaries; massive appropriations of
funds for the biological and chemical war industry; violation of the
Nuremberg Principles and thus of international law; the U.S. Justice
Department's sanctioning of torture; the merging of the Canadian and
American militaries; authorization of the entry and operation of American
troops on our soil in the event of an emergency which is for the US
government alone to determine; and much more.

Fact 34) There Are So Many More Facts To Be Learned...

The 2012 State of the Union Address

Image by US Embassy New Zealand
President Obama’s 2012 State of the Union Address
24 January 2012

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
January 24, 2012

Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery
State of the Union Address
“An America Built to Last”
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
Washington, DC

As Prepared for Delivery –

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:

Last month, I went to Andrews Air Force Base and welcomed home some of our last troops to serve in Iraq. Together, we offered a final, proud salute to the colors under which more than a million of our fellow citizens fought – and several thousand gave their lives.

We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United States safer and more respected around the world. For the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq. For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country. Most of al Qaeda’s top lieutenants have been defeated. The Taliban’s momentum has been broken, and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home.

These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness, and teamwork of America’s Armed Forces. At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations. They’re not consumed with personal ambition. They don’t obsess over their differences. They focus on the mission at hand. They work together.

Imagine what we could accomplish if we followed their example. Think about the America within our reach: A country that leads the world in educating its people. An America that attracts a new generation of high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs. A future where we’re in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity aren’t so tied to unstable parts of the world. An economy built to last, where hard work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded.

We can do this. I know we can, because we’ve done it before. At the end of World War II, when another generation of heroes returned home from combat, they built the strongest economy and middle class the world has ever known. My grandfather, a veteran of Patton’s Army, got the chance to go to college on the GI Bill. My grandmother, who worked on a bomber assembly line, was part of a workforce that turned out the best products on Earth.

The two of them shared the optimism of a Nation that had triumphed over a depression and fascism. They understood they were part of something larger; that they were contributing to a story of success that every American had a chance to share – the basic American promise that if you worked hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, send your kids to college, and put a little away for retirement.

The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive. No challenge is more urgent. No debate is more important. We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by. Or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. What’s at stake are not Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. We have to reclaim them.

Let’s remember how we got here. Long before the recession, jobs and manufacturing began leaving our shores. Technology made businesses more efficient, but also made some jobs obsolete. Folks at the top saw their incomes rise like never before, but most hardworking Americans struggled with costs that were growing, paychecks that weren’t, and personal debt that kept piling up.

In 2008, the house of cards collapsed. We learned that mortgages had been sold to people who couldn’t afford or understand them. Banks had made huge bets and bonuses with other people’s money. Regulators had looked the other way, or didn’t have the authority to stop the bad behavior.

It was wrong. It was irresponsible. And it plunged our economy into a crisis that put millions out of work, saddled us with more debt, and left innocent, hard-working Americans holding the bag. In the six months before I took office, we lost nearly four million jobs. And we lost another four million before our policies were in full effect.

Those are the facts. But so are these. In the last 22 months, businesses have created more than three million jobs. Last year, they created the most jobs since 2005. American manufacturers are hiring again, creating jobs for the first time since the late 1990s. Together, we’ve agreed to cut the deficit by more than trillion. And we’ve put in place new rules to hold Wall Street accountable, so a crisis like that never happens again.

The state of our Union is getting stronger. And we’ve come too far to turn back now. As long as I’m President, I will work with anyone in this chamber to build on this momentum. But I intend to fight obstruction with action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place.

No, we will not go back to an economy weakened by outsourcing, bad debt, and phony financial profits. Tonight, I want to speak about how we move forward, and lay out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last – an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.

This blueprint begins with American manufacturing.

On the day I took office, our auto industry was on the verge of collapse. Some even said we should let it die. With a million jobs at stake, I refused to let that happen. In exchange for help, we demanded responsibility. We got workers and automakers to settle their differences. We got the industry to retool and restructure. Today, General Motors is back on top as the world’s number one automaker. Chrysler has grown faster in the U.S. than any major car company. Ford is investing billions in U.S. plants and factories. And together, the entire industry added nearly 160,000 jobs.

We bet on American workers. We bet on American ingenuity. And tonight, the American auto industry is back.

What’s happening in Detroit can happen in other industries. It can happen in Cleveland and Pittsburgh and Raleigh. We can’t bring back every job that’s left our shores. But right now, it’s getting more expensive to do business in places like China. Meanwhile, America is more productive. A few weeks ago, the CEO of Master Lock told me that it now makes business sense for him to bring jobs back home. Today, for the first time in fifteen years, Master Lock’s unionized plant in Milwaukee is running at full capacity.

So we have a huge opportunity, at this moment, to bring manufacturing back. But we have to seize it. Tonight, my message to business leaders is simple: Ask yourselves what you can do to bring jobs back to your country, and your country will do everything we can to help you succeed.

We should start with our tax code. Right now, companies get tax breaks for moving jobs and profits overseas. Meanwhile, companies that choose to stay in America get hit with one of the highest tax rates in the world. It makes no sense, and everyone knows it.

So let’s change it. First, if you’re a business that wants to outsource jobs, you shouldn’t get a tax deduction for doing it. That money should be used to cover moving expenses for companies like Master Lock that decide to bring jobs home.

Second, no American company should be able to avoid paying its fair share of taxes by moving jobs and profits overseas. From now on, every multinational company should have to pay a basic minimum tax. And every penny should go towards lowering taxes for companies that choose to stay here and hire here.

Third, if you’re an American manufacturer, you should get a bigger tax cut. If you’re a high-tech manufacturer, we should double the tax deduction you get for making products here. And if you want to relocate in a community that was hit hard when a factory left town, you should get help financing a new plant, equipment, or training for new workers.

My message is simple. It’s time to stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in America. Send me these tax reforms, and I’ll sign them right away.

We’re also making it easier for American businesses to sell products all over the world. Two years ago, I set a goal of doubling U.S. exports over five years. With the bipartisan trade agreements I signed into law, we are on track to meet that goal – ahead of schedule. Soon, there will be millions of new customers for American goods in Panama, Colombia, and South Korea. Soon, there will be new cars on the streets of Seoul imported from Detroit, and Toledo, and Chicago.

I will go anywhere in the world to open new markets for American products. And I will not stand by when our competitors don’t play by the rules. We’ve brought trade cases against China at nearly twice the rate as the last administration – and it’s made a difference. Over a thousand Americans are working today because we stopped a surge in Chinese tires. But we need to do more. It’s not right when another country lets our movies, music, and software be pirated. It’s not fair when foreign manufacturers have a leg up on ours only because they’re heavily subsidized.

Tonight, I’m announcing the creation of a Trade Enforcement Unit that will be charged with investigating unfair trade practices in countries like China. There will be more inspections to prevent counterfeit or unsafe goods from crossing our borders. And this Congress should make sure that no foreign company has an advantage over American manufacturing when it comes to accessing finance or new markets like Russia. Our workers are the most productive on Earth, and if the playing field is level, I promise you – America will always win.

I also hear from many business leaders who want to hire in the United States but can’t find workers with the right skills. Growing industries in science and technology have twice as many openings as we have workers who can do the job. Think about that – openings at a time when millions of Americans are looking for work.

That’s inexcusable. And we know how to fix it.

Jackie Bray is a single mom from North Carolina who was laid off from her job as a mechanic. Then Siemens opened a gas turbine factory in Charlotte, and formed a partnership with Central Piedmont Community College. The company helped the college design courses in laser and robotics training. It paid Jackie’s tuition, then hired her to help operate their plant.

I want every American looking for work to have the same opportunity as Jackie did. Join me in a national commitment to train two million Americans with skills that will lead directly to a job. My Administration has already lined up more companies that want to help. Model partnerships between businesses like Siemens and community colleges in places like Charlotte, Orlando, and Louisville are up and running. Now you need to give more community colleges the resources they need to become community career centers – places that teach people skills that local businesses are looking for right now, from data management to high-tech manufacturing.

And I want to cut through the maze of confusing training programs, so that from now on, people like Jackie have one program, one website, and one place to go for all the information and help they need. It’s time to turn our unemployment system into a reemployment system that puts people to work.

These reforms will help people get jobs that are open today. But to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, our commitment to skills and education has to start earlier.

For less than one percent of what our Nation spends on education each year, we’ve convinced nearly every State in the country to raise their standards for teaching and learning – the first time that’s happened in a generation.

But challenges remain. And we know how to solve them.

At a time when other countries are doubling down on education, tight budgets have forced States to lay off thousands of teachers. We know a good teacher can increase the lifetime income of a classroom by over 0,000. A great teacher can offer an escape from poverty to the child who dreams beyond his circumstance. Every person in this chamber can point to a teacher who changed the trajectory of their lives. Most teachers work tirelessly, with modest pay, sometimes digging into their own pocket for school supplies – just to make a difference.

Teachers matter. So instead of bashing them, or defending the status quo, let’s offer schools a deal. Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones. In return, grant schools flexibility: To teach with creativity and passion; to stop teaching to the test; and to replace teachers who just aren’t helping kids learn.

We also know that when students aren’t allowed to walk away from their education, more of them walk the stage to get their diploma. So tonight, I call on every State to require that all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn eighteen.

When kids do graduate, the most daunting challenge can be the cost of college. At a time when Americans owe more in tuition debt than credit card debt, this Congress needs to stop the interest rates on student loans from doubling in July. Extend the tuition tax credit we started that saves middle-class families thousands of dollars. And give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling the number of work-study jobs in the next five years.

Of course, it’s not enough for us to increase student aid. We can’t just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition; we’ll run out of money. States also need to do their part, by making higher education a higher priority in their budgets. And colleges and universities have to do their part by working to keep costs down. Recently, I spoke with a group of college presidents who’ve done just that. Some schools re-design courses to help students finish more quickly. Some use better technology. The point is, it’s possible. So let me put colleges and universities on notice: If you can’t stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down. Higher education can’t be a luxury – it’s an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford.

Let’s also remember that hundreds of thousands of talented, hardworking students in this country face another challenge: The fact that they aren’t yet American citizens. Many were brought here as small children, are American through and through, yet they live every day with the threat of deportation. Others came more recently, to study business and science and engineering, but as soon as they get their degree, we send them home to invent new products and create new jobs somewhere else.

That doesn’t make sense.

I believe as strongly as ever that we should take on illegal immigration. That’s why my Administration has put more boots on the border than ever before. That’s why there are fewer illegal crossings than when I took office.

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