# Student loan forgiveness: A poll **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 21, 2021, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138 "2021-01-21T21:08:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Ziberian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/919ad9/32.png) [@Ziberian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ziberian)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/261 "2021-01-26T17:56:51Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Like the fiscal irresponsibility of the big banks making inflated loans? Like the fiscal irresponsibility of the universities charging out the ass? > > Why does fiscal responsibility only apply to the little guy? Why don’t corporations have to be fiscally responsible? > > Bail out the students and make the banks and unis eat part of the loss, not just the taxpayer. If people stopped taking those loans and paying the university prices, they would stop charging them. These are for-profit businesses, of course they charge whatever they can. They’re responsible for making their shareholders money, not helping students. And just because someone else is doing bad, doesn’t justify everyone doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/262 "2021-01-26T18:15:45Z")
> [@Ziberian](#): > > If people stopped taking those loans and paying the university prices, they would stop charging them. You say this like they are deciding to buy McDonalds or Burger King. The issue is a path to prosperity for young people. If you are 18 your choices are the military, a trade school or higher education. Maybe the gig economy will let you be an Uber driver without any of the above or perhaps a waiter. But most well paying jobs, jobs you can do for the rest of your life and will allow you to buy a home and raise a family, require further education beyond 12th grade. Almost all white collar jobs will require a college degree and as has been noted, there are precious few blue collar jobs left that pay well. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/263 "2021-01-26T18:34:58Z")
Corporations and banks alike have had to be bailed out by taxpayers due to questionable practices. Students deserve a fair shake. The means for doing this are (some of): - limits to tuition fees - linking tuition and average salaries - low interest rates - ample bursaries for the needy and smart - workplace relevant, well-paying jobs for students who require them - high teaching assistant salaries - good teaching assistant conditions - schools being forced to provide relevant learning experiences (if applicable) - shutting down degree mills and scam schools which take undue advantage of foreign students or the would-be educated - forgiving portions of a loan, eventually, if later salaries are low despite effort - forgiving all of a loan in bankruptcy But _not_ blanket forgiveness of a fixed amount. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/265 "2021-01-26T18:46:19Z")
> [@Ziberian](#): > > If people stopped taking those loans and paying the university prices, they would stop charging them. These are for-profit businesses, of course they charge whatever they can. This is mostly incorrect. There do exist for-profit colleges, but most public and private colleges and universities are nonprofit institutions. Higher education in the USA includes a variety of different types of institutions, from community colleges to Ivy League universities (and many other types). ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/266 "2021-01-26T18:46:49Z")
> [@Ziberian](#): > > If people stopped taking those loans and paying the university prices So a whole generation should shoot itself in the foot and relegate themselves to a lower income and standard of living just to stick it to the loan companies? All except for those with rich parents who can pay for school anyways of course? ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/267 "2021-01-26T18:52:35Z")
> [@Ziberian](#): > > > [@Pleonast](#): > > > > You’re make a good argument and then you undermine it by adding vindictiveness. > > What’s vindictive?!?!? People who take out loans and don’t pay them off are NOT fiscally responsible. Recognizing that is hardly vindictive, it’s reality. You’re trying to ignore the many, many people who paid off their loans or found a way through college to avoid them. Perhaps you misunderstood what I was calling vindictive: > [@Ziberian](#): > > the folks who showed fiscal responsibility don’t get screwed. That opinion, similar to “no one should get help that I didn’t get it” is vindictive. It shows your motivation does not have empathy. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/268 "2021-01-26T18:56:08Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > This is mostly incorrect. There do exist for-profit colleges, but most public and private colleges and universities are nonprofit institutions. Nonprofit institutions in no way means they are inexpensive to attend. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/269 "2021-01-26T19:02:52Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Was anyone taking these loans doing so with the impression that they would not have to pay them back? They didnt think… period. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/270 "2021-01-26T19:05:44Z")
> [@Ziberian](#): > > If people stopped taking those loans and paying the university prices, they would stop charging them. These are for-profit businesses, of course they charge whatever they can. Most colleges arent for profit. And this is like saying if people stopped taking out car loans, car companies would stop making cars. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/271 "2021-01-26T19:23:05Z")
Not everyone is as financially smart and savvy as you are. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/272 "2021-01-26T19:56:12Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > > > This is mostly incorrect. There do exist for-profit colleges, but most public and private colleges and universities are nonprofit institutions. > > Nonprofit institutions in no way means they are inexpensive to attend. Right, but that’s a non-sequitur; I never said they were. What it means is that they are not out to maximize profit by charging as much as the market will bear. They are run and budgeted differently from for-profit institutions, and they cannot necessarily afford to charge less in tuition than they already do. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/273 "2021-01-26T20:03:04Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > What it means is that they are not out to maximize profit by charging as much as the market will bear. That’s not true either. Nonprofits can sell their services at any price they want. What makes them a nonprofit is what happens to the money the collect. Harvard University is a nonprofit. Their tuition is $52,000/year. Columbia University is also a nonprofit with a tuition of $62,000/year. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/274 "2021-01-27T17:53:46Z")
And they spend that money educating students. It costs a lot of money to educate a student. Sticker price students help pay for aid for students getting merit or need based aid. And yes, there has been administrative bloat - but schools need a diversity office and an accessibility services office now. They need writing centers and mental health services. Those offices are utilized. And yes, there has been facilities bloat - when your theatre was built in 1949, it may be time to install a modern theatre. > **[Will Half Of All Colleges Really Close In The Next Decade?](https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelhorn/2018/12/13/will-half-of-all-colleges-really-close-in-the-next-decade/?sh=174a80ba52e5)** > > Harvard Professor Clayton Christensen consistently turns heads in higher education by predicting that 50% of colleges and universities will close or go bankrupt in the next decade. The prediction is directionally correct, as the failure rate is... ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/275 "2021-02-11T02:34:09Z")
Congressman Mondaire Jones really shows how tone deaf he can be. > **[Biden must cancel student debt without Congress](https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-yes-biden-can-cancel-student-debt-20210210-j5f4ib7yrzfdpnc3tql52fj2su-story.html)** > > Eighty-one million Americans elected Joe Biden to do everything he can to ensure a swift, equitable recovery — without waiting for Congress. President Biden must use his authority to cancel $50,000 in student debt for every person with federal loans.... ‘… But law school left me on my own. I graduated with more than $120,000 in debt…’ Poor little me, this horrible law school debt only got me into Congress. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/276 "2021-02-11T04:19:36Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Yes, but this is a fire in on our deck while the one in our own kitchen threatens flashover. This isn’t even a fire. This is an unwatched barbecue grill while the kitchen is on fire, the basement is flooding, and the septic tank is backflowing. I’d much rather have us look at the underlying causes first, address those, then come back to the remaining outstanding debt (where appropriate). ---
**Author:** ![StraightTalk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straighttalk/32/9982_2.png) [@StraightTalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StraightTalk)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/278 "2021-07-01T14:23:31Z")
If any student loans are forgiven, I want my $50K back. ---
**Author:** ![Ziberian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/919ad9/32.png) [@Ziberian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ziberian)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/280 "2021-07-03T15:46:39Z")
> [@StraightTalk](#): > > If any student loans are forgiven, I want my $50K back. A very succinct statement of what is wrong with forgiving outstanding loan debt. It is effectively making college free retroactively, but only for people who don’t pay their bills. The only way to make this fair is to not just forgive outstanding debt, but to write checks to every student who attended college during the years included who paid their bills. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/281 "2021-07-03T16:03:47Z")
It’s even worse. People like myself would have chosen a different college if I knew it wouldn’t have to worry about money. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/282 "2021-07-05T10:51:43Z")
What is wrong with you all? We can only fix a problem if you get paid too? I get it. Why should Joe Millennial get a check if Jane Boomer can’t? TOTALLY unfair! 🙄 What is being ignored are the costs of higher education today versus what it was 30+ years ago as well as just sorting out the country to make it a better place. Let young people get out from under crippling debt that takes decades to discharge short of dying (if then) and let them be able to buy a home and start a family. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138/283 "2021-07-05T11:21:18Z")
I should add… I do not think all debt should be wiped. Say, up to $50,000. If you went to Harvard you get $50k wiped off of your $120k debt. If you went to Arkansas State and spent $25k your debt is gone. (Made-up numbers…this can certainly be tweaked.) Also, I do not think this debt forgiveness works without serious reform in school tuition. At the very least offer a free route for higher education so this debt forgiveness thing is not needed in the future. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loan-forgiveness-a-poll/931138.md?page=15)