Live data from Hacker News

Why I Defaulted on My Student Loans

nytimes.com

31–32 of 32 posts

Re: Why I Defaulted on My Student Loans

#31
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, actually its working out fine atm, thank you :) There even was a article linked here about USA student coming to germany for education this week. It said that most of them stay. Turns out if you spend like 5 of your formative years at one place, you kind of build roots there. So maybe an attractive education system can actually help securing talent. There even was a statement by a german official which roughly…

"There even was a article linked here about USA student coming to germany for education this week. It said that most of them stay." So Germany invested by subsidizing some (foreign) students and manages to benefit from the fruits of its own education investment - this is hardly the context I was talking about. I was talking about the case where a country like Germany educates for free its own citizens then they leave…

But thats exactly what I am saying. The cost for education in the US is prohibitve and so they decide to come to germany. If they find employment most people will stay where they got educated.

However, i do not actually think that this the point. Education has always profited heavily from a diverse enviroment, so we do profit from people all over the world coming to us. Besides, not everything is about investment, sometimes a society just has to decide what it values. We also have a really expensive social system. I value this highly and love it when my tax money goes to efforts like this. I mean sure, at the end of the day i probably contribute more than i recieve money wise, but living in a society where i feel comfortable is pretty valuable to me :)

Lasty, i think i can objectivly point out, that neither of us is very likely to make any objective statements without getting into heavy citations :)

Re: Why I Defaulted on My Student Loans

#32
post #28

I don't understand how people can be so sure that they've made the right choice: If society isn't willing to give you anything for it, how are you sure it's your 'usefulness in life'? Usefulness to whom? How is this person supposed to be a sympathetic character, when he paid none of the investment towards higher education, reaped a number of the benefits, and then lumps people who played by the rules/lived within the…

"If society isn't willing to give you anything for it, how are you sure it's your 'usefulness in life'?" Because usefulness isn't measured only in money. (Think of the children! No, really. They cost a ton, no guarantee they'll live to support you in your dotage even, but people still have them.)

Society gives you a ton of validation, support, and encouragement to pursue having/raising children well. I'm not saying usefulness is only measured in money, but money is definitely one of many barometers to gauge if you're doing something useful. Seeing as this article specifically discussed his career, I think that money is a pertinent measure of what society would like you to do/you should do to fulfill your obligations.
Post reply on HN