[Osmium]

> The biggest problem I have with the idea of student loan forgiveness is that it punishes people

First, I completely get how some people feel this way. It's valid.

However, as someone who's almost paid off their own student loan, I would not feel punished by student loan forgiveness. I would be glad to see it. The money I have repaid is already gone; yes, if I could turn back time knowing it would be forgiven, I needn't have repaid it, but if I could turn back time there are lots of investments or choices I would do differently. Student loan forgiveness would take a huge existential burden off an entire generation. It would do so much for mental wellbeing of so many of my peers. I can't think of something I'd rather see. And the truth is, I've almost paid off my loans because I'm doing alright. I'll be fine.

Now, the fact it got this bad to start with...doing student loan forgiveness without also making serious reforms is just promising it will happen again. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't help people who are suffering today.

[bosie]

If the forgiveness-plan is done, how do you feel that you are now behind on the real estate market compared to someone 10 years your junior? Why not forgive (past and current) tuition rather than debt? At least that would equal the playing field and would acknowledge that tuition was horrible, rather than empahsing the debt aspect of it.

[etempleton]

If loan forgiveness were to happen I would feel bad for someone in your position, but i would feel much worse for the kid who made the hard, but perhaps rational or only choice to forgo college entirely to immediately work and help the family. How is it fair for those individuals?

Many working class 18 year olds will be punished for making what they thought was a pragmatic choice.

[gruez]

>Student loan forgiveness would take a huge existential burden off an entire generation. It would do so much for mental wellbeing of so many of my peers. I can't think of something I'd rather see. And the truth is, I've almost paid off my loans because I'm doing alright. I'll be fine.

You might be fine right now, but what about all the people who scrimped and saved for years to pay off their student loans. Are their efforts for nothing?

[UnpossibleJim]

As someone who paid off my student loans (and struggled to do so, put off marriage to do so) I'm more than happy for student loan forgiveness. That aside, going forward, college is not much of a choice for many white collar jobs these days. Not necessarily to do them, but to be considered for them. If community colleges were state funded and made into four year institutions, available like high school extensions with degrees in the most needed areas, tuition free (no housing, buy your own supplies)... I don't see a huge down side. There are plenty of bloated budget costs that can be cut to bolster needed education in sectors where we are lacking trained people. If people want to go to a more prestigious college that a community college, they can pay for it. If they want a degree outside of the limited scope offered from the needed degrees, then they might have to pay for it. It sounds a bit draconian, but it's a service contract of sorts =/

[meatsauce]

"Student loan forgiveness would take a huge existential burden off an entire generation."

So would having you pay my mortgage.