Our Say: College cost spiral poses long-range problem for nation

America's future depends on the brainpower of its workforce. That brainpower has to be cultivated. For that we have a college system - private, state and community - that is one of our nation's crown jewels.

But it increasingly seems as if you have to own the crown jewels - and hock them - in order to get your kids at least as far as a bachelor's degree.

Legislators, state and federal, are understandably preoccupied by the dire fallout of an economy in recession. But they ought to take a look at reports released this week by two national educational groups.

In "Measuring up 2008," the National...