If we can do it for third world countries, why not do it for people in their 20s?

chartible contributions, etc when I who am part of the working poor cannot use a schedule A to deduct any of these that I pay full-bore with no deductions?
It must be because you have more wealth than I do, I'd call that discrimination
what is fair about that situation? Maybe you need to think a little more deeply about your "fairness".

Not a good argument.

Why do peace activists have to help pay for wars? Why do people being gouged by the energy industry have to pay subsidies to oil companies? Why should we let the stakeholders in businesses be personally protected from that business' bankruptcy? Why should all of us pay for their failure?

Why the fuck do you imagine that you get to pick one exception, which would help people who actually need help, to moralize over?

Talk about "not a good argument." Yours goes well, far and beyond into the realm of "fucking absurd," unless you're going to go full radical libertarian. This is a democracy, of sorts. We all pay for shit we don't like, because we all are part of that compromise.

You said exactly what I wanted to say.

Please note that you cannot void student loans in bankruptcy.

You're exactly right--just because some people were fortunate enough to avoid being screwed in the first place, there's no reason at all not to keep on screwing everyone.


If it'll make you feel better, I'd be perfectly happy with a one-time amnesty for student loans, forgiving (say) $20K worth of federally subsidized student loans for every borrower. And for borrowers who paid off their federally subsidized loans after (say) 2005, let them claim a $5000 tax credit per year for four years.

Might not solve the problem entirely, but I don't know too many people who are in a position to reject an offer of $20K, so it would be a big help.

I don't think we should be subsidizing successful doctors and lawyers.

I knew a guy (boyfriend of a good friend) years ago who lamented his student loans totalling somewhere around $174K. He was a plastic surgeon and was looking to net upwards of $250K per year.

In other words, he could pay off his entire student loan debt in one year and still pocket more than $75K. Absolutely no reason at all to subsidize people at that level.


But for someone caught up in the lie that a college education is the best route to success, only to find that their degree is worthless? It seems simply unfair to punish them with a lifetime of inescapable, crippling debt simply because they didn't have the foresight to predict the domestic job market and global economic conditions ten years beforehand.

let's reverse the de fact privatization for profit of our higher education system, starting with 7 digit incomes for college administrator and athletic coaches and put the money back into tenure tracks for professors instead of creating a low wage army of adjuncts. We might do well to stop investing far more money in infrastructure than student aid. We could also end the tuition rackets that drive the whole system by returning to state and federal based grant programs rather than the current system of debt penury.

this country moved forward - rather than being chained to the mistakes of the past? We've been paying on our mortgage for 25 years now. Believe it or not, I'd have lauded the PTB if they had bailed out the banks by giving the trillions of dollars we gave the banks - to the borrowers! I mean... if we tax-payers are gonna pay either way.... And those beleaguered home-buyers could have PAID OFF their ridiculous loans - the banks would've been made solvent - and the housing market would've been better off without the many foreclosed homes dragging down values and throwing out middle-class Americans.

No - we should cling to the robbery of the past in deference to those who suffered from it. Yeah - THAT'S progressive.

When the mortgage bailout occurred, I said much the same thing. Bailing out the mortgages by bolstering the borrowers would have accomplished the alleged goal of saving the lenders and would also have saved the borrowers. Instead, the lenders get bailed out and still get paid by the borrowers, in effect reaping twice the benefit. Who wouldn't pursue such a business model?

the next bubble to burst and plunge the nation into a new fiscal black hole will be student loan debt, and you'll end up paying much more to fix that than you would have otherwise.

in hindsight committees not foresight committees. This grouping of dumbasses cares not about the future unless it relates to their getting more graft and the American people be damned.

Why must every single fucking idea to help someone be weighed against the interests of those who DO NOT NEED HELP? That kind of stupid ass selfish thinking is why this country is so fucked.

Governments involve themselves in education, and spend taxpayer money on education, because doing that is hugely preferable to living in a nation of morons.

I went back to college in late in life.....just in time for George Bush to destroy the economy....

Maybe they could tie it to public service, like joining the military forgives student loan debt.


Oh, wait...

Bail out the people indentured to a corrupt system, not the banks.

And FIX the damned system.

Public education now. And corporate money out of elections/government.

A 10% cap just means that young educated adults are going to still pay higher taxes. It might be less than what college students are paying now. Lord, I remember when I was paying half my income on Stafford loans at friggen 7-8% interest. I just finished paying for my degree two years ago, and Mrs. 'Droid is still paying her masters degree. We are fricken' 50 years old!
Public financing of college needs to start now!
The Democrats should make it a part of their platform, a key issue upon which to hang their economic policy to improve the opportunity for all Americans willing to study, practice new skills, and apply them to grow our economy. Combined with the ACA, more educated people will build more successful businesses and innovations than ever before in the history of our country.
This one issue exposes the hypocrisy of our Democratic leaders when they say they support the middle class and improving the economy.
I am completely underwhelmed.

expect us to start acting like a developed country now.

For life through taxes. I was glad when I finally paid mine off. It was an accomplishment.

of education is a good idea, you'll love it when they come for your water.

Sounds like some inportant first steps.

Last edited Sun Jun 8, 2014, 11:09 AM - Edit history (1)

If these measures will apply to the even MORE onerous "Parent-Plus" loans?

A bill making the maximum average four year tuition no more than the average tenured faculty's annual salary for taxpayer supported colleges and universities. Also giving US citizens priority over foreign students in the admissions process.

Stop outsourcing middle class US jobs. Enact countervailing tariffs or tax penalties for businesses that offshore. Do something to encourage jobs to remain in the US. Do something to create an environment where jobs are more secure with good pay, retirement benefits, etc. Until that happens all of this is just inadequate baloney that does nothing to lower the cost of getting a higher education.
Students don't need more affordable loans. They need more affordable education and access to steady jobs. Ten percent of nothing is nothing and that's what happens when one is between jobs or out of work. Then interest builds and they are caught in a perpetual debt cycle.
We award our best and brightest with financial aide in the form of loans then push them out into an insecure job market where wages have stagnated, retirement plans are fee heavy 401ks invested in an unreformed stock market, and businesses are still focused on lowering labor costs in anyway possible.

"This bill doesn't make college more affordable, reduce the amount of money students will have to borrow, or do anything about the lack of jobs grads face in the Obama economy."

He's correct of course, and now that he has become a supporter of lower tuition and job creation, expect a bill forthwith from the Republicans to that effect.

Just shows that he fully understands the problem and refuses to do anything about it. Republicans aren't stupid. They are evil.

interests that cause the problems so as to make more money. It's like having a for profit fire department run by arsonists.

tied to 1 year treasuries. 6.9% fixed is a shitty rate for a full recourse loan.

which makes repayment impractical, even at 10 percent. Ten percent is impossible for most incomes.