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The Student Debt Problem Is Worse Than We Imagined

nytimes.com

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Re: The Student Debt Problem Is Worse Than We Imagined

#241

Post by theLotusGambit »

monetus wrote: post #195
theLotusGambit wrote: post #66

Perspective (anecdote) from a high school student: There is a real push for college. It's an unstated assumption that you're going to go, and the topic of debt seems to be passively avoided ("Don't worry, it'll all work out!"). We receive a grade for the college application process, so you can't not apply. College is still probably a good deal the majority of the time I think, but I wish there was some acknowledgemen…

Do you mind if I ask what state you're in? My high school made people write down colleges to send their ACT scores to, but I remember the confusion as some neither knew what to write nor were offered guidance afterwards.

Louisiana

Re: The Student Debt Problem Is Worse Than We Imagined

#242

Post by paulmd »

severine wrote: post #147
jldugger wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> First of all students need a way to declare bankruptcy. While I'm not for or against such a policy, I find it intriguing you think bankruptcy is free market ideology adjacent.

On The Importance Of Efficient Bankruptcy To A Free Market Economy: https://outline.com/8stGYk (from Forbes no less!)

From someone who blogs on Forbes' platform, you mean.

Re: The Student Debt Problem Is Worse Than We Imagined

#243

Post by anjc »

magnusss wrote: post #185

It seems like the majority of the commenters here are missing the point. The huge overhang of student loan debt is not a result of kids who go to a four year college, graduate with an unmarketable degree in philosophy, fall on hard times and then default. It's kids who go to barber school (and the like) taking on $30k of debt, then realizing they don't make enough money cutting hair to support themselves, much less p…

> There's a huge population of people like that.

The problem is the lender, surely

Re: The Student Debt Problem Is Worse Than We Imagined

#244

Post by v_lisivka »

njarboe wrote: post #205
Waterluvian wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "as politicians concern themselves more so with existential power struggle" I've been watching The Vietnam War documentary. Nothing angers me more than hearing Presidentsspeak about "re-election" in the same sentences as they speak about mass casualty campaigns as if it's one of the primary strategic considerations of a war that kills hundreds of thousands. Politicians who have insulated themselves from the effects…

Large numbers of nuclear weapons means total war between nuclear powers will escalate very quickly to nuclear armageddon. This (MAD) has prevented total war for generations, but has very costly tail risks that people growing up in the post-Cold War era are not likely to appreciate.

Why nuclear? Why not chemical or biological WMD?

Re: The Student Debt Problem Is Worse Than We Imagined

#245

Post by ransom1538 »

acjohnson55 wrote: post #18

It's a damn shame we've let this crisis reach this scale. Along with healthcare, climate change, the debt, our inauguration, and so on, we've been essentially frozen for most of my life as politicians concern themselves more so with existential power struggle. The right wants to bring us back to the gilded age, the left makes headlines but is barely relevant, and the center is trying to squeeze bandaid solutions whil…

Just let students default. The problem would be solved in a week. Poor investments should get poor returns. You should be able to default on any loan out of human dignity.

Re: The Student Debt Problem Is Worse Than We Imagined

#247

Post by Gustomaximus »

I've wondered if an good way to fund universities would be offer them x% of a students tax return for X years after graduation.

That way universities would likely focus their courses on areas that get people employed, while cross subsidising some areas they feel add value to the educational environment. Or require popular courses that dont deliver returns as for some upfront payment. Even use data if it's that granular to even see what department heads or other facets create the best results.

Re: The Student Debt Problem Is Worse Than We Imagined

#248

Post by ur-whale »

batteryhorse wrote: post #95
Delmania wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

None; absolutely none. Term limits are a terrible idea because to gain experience with politics and credibility within the establishment requires years. Institute term limits lobbyists gain all the power as they are the only ones who have the clout to get legislation passed. You'd need to institute campaign finance reform and ban lobbyists before you could start terms limits. But these are just both band aids on Amer…

I can't express how wrong this response is. Term limits are necessary, there should be no such thing as a "career politician". A politician should be required to have actual skills, and not just a nice smile. Experience with politics is meaningless, there should be NO establishment. It is always the new guy who reveals the truth to the people, which is a good thing. Experience only results in being able to lie to the…

>A good first step would be to get rid of Diane Feinstein.

Just for this, I am obligated to upvote.

Re: The Student Debt Problem Is Worse Than We Imagined

#249

Post by ur-whale »

zhdc1 wrote: post #125
batteryhorse wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't express how wrong this response is. Term limits are necessary, there should be no such thing as a "career politician". A politician should be required to have actual skills, and not just a nice smile. Experience with politics is meaningless, there should be NO establishment. It is always the new guy who reveals the truth to the people, which is a good thing. Experience only results in being able to lie to the…

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not. The highest level of government is the worst place I can think of to have a cadre of amateurs running the show.

You are correct in that they are certainly not amateurs.

Where you err deeply is if you believe their skillset is about running the country.

It's not. It's about getting re-elected and trafficking influence.

Re: The Student Debt Problem Is Worse Than We Imagined

#250

Post by mmirate »

v_lisivka wrote: post #244
njarboe wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Large numbers of nuclear weapons means total war between nuclear powers will escalate very quickly to nuclear armageddon. This (MAD) has prevented total war for generations, but has very costly tail risks that people growing up in the post-Cold War era are not likely to appreciate.

Why nuclear? Why not chemical or biological WMD?

Because nuclear - with exception of neutron bombs - destroys buildings, resources and materiel as well as people; chemical and biological attacks mostly don't.
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