Student Loan Debates...Even More Hypocrisy From The Left

David, is it fair for me to say that you believe in "personal responsibility"? I too believe in that, to a point (income and ability-based), whether you believe that is true or not lol

One of your arguments in the past was that universities are misrepresenting the truths as to the costs of their programs and the benefits that higher education will provide people after completion of their studies, true? Would it be fair to say that the people entering into those studies at the universities also bear some of that responsibility? Isn't it the student's responsibility to not only provide sufficient funding for their studies, but also to be aware of the current and expected availability of work after completion of their studies? In short, don't they bear some 'personal responsibility' themselves for accruing that debt?

I for one looked at what types of jobs I may be able to get with various degrees, what kind of debt I would incur as a result of studying at different colleges and different courses, and what income I could reasonably expect afterwards. I came to the conclusion that there were too many "ifs" there to justify myself racking up a huge amount of debt, and that was over twenty years ago during a period of much better employment opportunities than present today... and college was wayyyy cheaper back then for someone like me due to the government programs available. Meaning it's even harder for today's kids.

 

I'll refrain from pointing out all the inaccuracies in your comment above. Now, I know we both enjoy this pointless bickering to one extent or another... but sooner or later the mods may want us to get back on the subject, which is student loan issues.

 

I'm still curious as to those "hows & whys" you referred to & what, besides the cost of a college education, you consider to be drivers of increased student loan debt.

 

As previously stated, republican beliefs such as "personal responsibility" and "smaller government" play a role in the creation of policies that in turn create laws based on those principles. To say it is as simple as that would be a lie, for it's far more complicated, especially considering the 50+ years this issue has been fought.

For example, one aspect of what has driven up student debt is less government funding for higher education, something espoused almost exclusively by republicans.

That alone is not the only reason though, and the idea of lesser government and less government debt isn't altogether wrong either, they are simply parts of a larger, more complicated process that has for decades steadily undermined the governments ability to help students achieve higher learning.