Derec, I think you took my "don't bash the kids" comment too seriously. That's why I put the smiley after the rest of the statement. But, I do think that we should help support children from low income homes. It's certainly not their fault that their parents are in need of help or their parents didn't do a good job of family planning. I agree that the amount of income one can make to receive benefits could certainly be lowered. My own son and dil have received the extra money for their two children this past year and my son is a programmer/developer. On the other hand, I suppose part of the reason why the income level was as high as it was, is to include a lot of the middle class families, who often receive little or no federal benefits. Either way, it's not going to turn me into a Republican. That's for sure.
Anyway, I seriously doubt that 50K in college loan debt is going to pass. It has less than 50% approval from the voters and there is a lot of resentment from people who never had the opportunity to attend college as well as from people who paid off their school loans. I've discussed this with friends who worked hard all their lives and never went to college. They don't support the loan forgiveness and resent the idea that those who usually have the ability to make a much higher income compared to themselves, might be given loan forgiveness. The current programs that allow one to work in a needed area in exchange for loan forgiveness are limited and problematic, if what I read about them a few weeks ago is true. Of course, that could be improved. There's a huge shortage of teachers right now. There are or used to be programs where one could teach while also obtaining the credentials to be certified in teaching. I would fully support such a program in return for loan forgiveness. A person should be willing to put in some effort in exchange for loan forgiveness. That's my point.
I say fuck those that resent others being free of the challenges they have had to weather.
Should we bow to the resentment the ex-slave holds for the man born free and enslave all free men? Or should we rather give the one so wronged something for their trouble perhaps after making sure all are free today?
I would see that we have done our level best to make all slaves free and all free born thence after, and after this great work, then after, focus on reparations.
this logic applies pretty much 1:1 with student loans too.