This is just evidence of the growing standard of no accountability in the United States. If you borrow money, you need to pay it back. Erasing student loans is the equivelent of theft. It makes me sick that some people think that education is a right. It is not! It is a priveledge, something worthy to pay money for. If we continue to take for granted the wonderful opportunities that are here in America we will lose them.

Government forgiveness on loans is not symptomatic of American unaccountability. The only reason that college is so expensive now is because of government financial practices that attempted to solve a problem it created (look up the history, it's available). Education is a privelege, but how many people in this country have the financial means to take this privelege? More people would if the costs were not so prohibitive. The analogy to credit cards is slightly off because people do not need credit cards nor do they need credit card debt to have a higher quality of life. However, they do need an education to achieve that goal. The government is NOT Santa Claus giving away free money, if you have ever paid for a college education out of your own pocket that fact would be frighteningly clear.

Our nation would probably have a greater appreciation for the seriousness of debt if we didn't live in a consumerist society, or one where the national deficit has climbed into the trillions and keeps climbing. If we had more people able to access education and become aware of the seriousness of debt and its consequences then maybe we would not be having this discussion. Unfortunately that will not happen because too many people are afraid of getting into debt to better their lives through education.

To equate loan forgiveness to theft is like equating hot dogs with cheese, the logic connecting them is untenable at best. Forgiving someone of their loans so they can put more money into the economy seems to be a financial win rather than a crime. Maybe they can use the higher income they earn with their college degree towards providing services to the larger community and stimulate more economic growth in a healthy and sustainable fashion.

Loan Forgiveness may not be a panacea for the current economic woes, but it is certainly not theft or individual's abdicating their responsibility. It sounds like the government founded on the idea of being "by the people, for the people" finding a new way to live up to its own principles.

I'm thinking that the individuals who replied are not and were not college students nor are they parents of children in college.  Forgiveness is not a handout, period.  It is, however, a congratulations on the hard work and dedication that was put into our college career.  If you are a college student or were a college student maybe you didn't devote much of your life to your college education, but I know I definately did, as well as many others who can stand by my side and say college education meant everything to us.  I'm graduating this fall and I went through college on my own.  Nobody was there when I started.  My father was not around and my mother devoted herself to her own life.  I'm the one that decided to go to college and succeed.  I didn't have anybody in my corner rooting for me when I started.  So if my loans are to be forgiven, they are a way of telling me "great job and good luck with your future".  Don't you dare have the idea to think people do not know what responsibility is, maybe you are thinking of your short comings.  College students do not have to  continue our education, it is a choice.  Going to college is a responsibility all in itself.  When we signed the loans, we didn't expect for them to be forgiven.  As a matter of fact, I just started hearing about forgiveness programs not too long ago, but is was not before or when I signed my promissory note.  I hope this helps you the next time you make a statement without thinking first.  Never go on your first thought when you make a statement or regarding anything in life, think it through and through, with every outcome, possibility, and consequence following. 

MaddoxP says ...

I'm thinking that the individuals who replied are not and were not college students nor are they parents of children in college.  Forgiveness is not a handout, period.  It is, however, a congratulations on the hard work and dedication that was put into our college career.  If you are a college student or were a college student maybe you didn't devote much of your life to your college education, but I know I definately did, as well as many others who can stand by my side and say college education meant everything to us.  I'm graduating this fall and I went through college on my own.  Nobody was there when I started.  My father was not around and my mother devoted herself to her own life.  I'm the one that decided to go to college and succeed.  I didn't have anybody in my corner rooting for me when I started.  So if my loans are to be forgiven, they are a way of telling me "great job and good luck with your future".  Don't you dare have the idea to think people do not know what responsibility is, maybe you are thinking of your short comings.  College students do not have to  continue our education, it is a choice.  Going to college is a responsibility all in itself.  When we signed the loans, we didn't expect for them to be forgiven.  As a matter of fact, I just started hearing about forgiveness programs not too long ago, but is was not before or when I signed my promissory note.  I hope this helps you the next time you make a statement without thinking first.  Never go on your first thought when you make a statement or regarding anything in life, think it through and through, with every outcome, possibility, and consequence following. 

 

 

 

Honestly I'm sorry to hear that you had such a hard experience. But the fact that you may have had a hard life does not change the fact that you did sign, saying that you would repay your loans. I've had a long hard life as well, I singed a piece of paper once that I wished I didn't, and because I did I spent 15 months in Iraq. I was deployed 4 months after my first child was born. But I found a way to put myself in a better position no matter what the cost. Because I knew that either way my son would have a better future if I better myself first. 

for everyone who thinks that we should have forgiveness for student loans because of  our life experiences:

Thats just another reason for people to look down on us. Don't ever let anyone or anything take your pride of being able to make it on your own. Doing whatever it takes to meet your goals, fill your dreams, and take control of your own future. without any handouts!!!!

i certainly hope that wasn't  in response to my last post. first of all i'm not accusing anyone of theft. second i don't know how many times you've encountered the mafia, but you're right, the mafia doesn't charge like that. if you owed them since the early 80's you wouldn't be posting on this website right now. and the only reason i say that people should be more responsible to repay their debt is so incidences like yours don't happen. had you not defaulted would you still be paying back the loan and owing more than 35k???

As it has been stated before, attending college is a privilege. Possessing a credit card issued in your name is a privilege. These "privileges" are choices that YOU made so, YOU are responsible to repay your obligation for what you have chosen to do.

It's not the Governments/Tax payers burden to bear for the choices that YOU made. What makes forgiving a student loan any different than forgiving the loan of someone that bought a new Corvette, only to realize that they can't afford to keep it because they lost their job?  It's not the Governments/Tax payers problem that you went through college and earned your degree, only to end up as a "Stay at home Mom" that never put her degree to use and ended up divorced, still owing on her student loans.

Amazing that the current poll of Forgiving Student Loans is a resounding yes and most likely, all the votes are by people that have failed to repay their loan. There should be a second poll to ask, should people that have already repaid their student loans, receive a check in the mail to repay them for their loan and,should the future college borrowers get a reprieve from having to pay back their student loans?

Forgiving student loans will never happen.

I don't believe that the government should necessarily forgive student loans, but something should be done for those forced to take out high-interest student loans in order to continue studying. I found myself in great difficulties as I was divorcing, and I couldn't wait for the government loans. I had to take out a private loan in order to support myself and pay tuition, because it was the only way at the time.