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Jeff Chestnut's avatar

That may be a first wake up call but the student loan debt that you can’t or won’t pay back is a strong indicator of your life decision character. Get a job and make payments!! Those not paying back student loans need a hard lesson - how about this - no more loans for anything as you’ve demonstrated the desire to walk on any commitment.

It’s a tough world, even tougher with low integrity.

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dave walker's avatar

Growing up in a small town in Northern Michigan many of us just joined the military after high school. I’m guessing 15-20% of the men and 5% of the ladies. Many of us got out and worked in the trades and several went to college with the help of the GI Bill and other incentives offered in the 80’s to entice recruitment. I’m grateful to have taken that route because nobody’s more determined to succeed when it’s their own money on the line. Of course, a lot has changed, but the incentive to succeed was reinforced by the downside of failing. Doesn’t appear many people would go hungry or not even have some of the basics in our current system if they did fail to work hard enough to make it.

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AT.'s avatar

So utterly grateful that my son decided on joining the Marine Corps. He tried to walk on at a small JUCO in Texas to play baseball but when his stuff wasn’t working on the mound, he came home. He joined in 2018, just got meritoriously promoted to SSGT and well on his way. Will retire at 39 with full bennies and a whole host of experience that will translate to the private sector. No student loan debt, traveling the world on Uncle Sam and making a lifetime of memories. Couldn’t be prouder.

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David Ramsden-Wood's avatar

I love that. Congrats!

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AT.'s avatar

Yes sir!

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Dawn's avatar

SAY IT LOUDER! Right on…👏🏻👏🏻

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W. A. Samuel's avatar

Granted the mid-69’s were still in the “golden era” of public school education. Things started going downhill soon after when LBJ’s “Great Society” began in earnest.

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W. A. Samuel's avatar

I was taught NPV & time value of money in 11th grade high school. In a public school no less. Gra

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Don Molen's avatar

🎯👏

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Georoc01's avatar

The other plus is that once they reach a certain age and away from home, their parents income no longer required on the aid application.

And on the AI. Chatgpt is free to college students and most are using it for their assignments whether the school integrates it or not.

https://edsource.org/2024/how-are-college-students-using-ai-tools-like-chatgpt/722210

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Russell A. Paielli's avatar

I sympathize with the students who took those huge loans but did not get a real education. Yes, in retrospect it was foolish, but we all do foolish things at one time or another. I've certainly done my share.

But if those loans are to be "forgiven", they should be paid back by the educational institutions that ripped off the students in the first place, not the general public, most of who never got a college degree.

If you take out a loan to buy a car, and the car turns out to be a lemon, should the lender or the car manufacturer be held liable?

Maybe class-action lawsuits should be brought by these students against the educational institutions that ripped them off. Is that possible?

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David Ramsden-Wood's avatar

You’d have to prove fraud or something. They signed the loan agreement. I think ultimately Trump attacking universities is to lower their prestige and create “workers” that don’t value college.

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Russell A. Paielli's avatar

We certainly need more skilled tradesmen. Mike Rowe is absolutely right about that. As an engineer with an advanced degree, I get a lesson in humility when it comes to home repairs and remodeling! Doing it right is not as easy as some people seem to think, and running a business doing it is another level altogether.

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NTX Oilman's avatar

I hadn’t thought of it until I read it here; but is encouragement of private debt intentional so as the mask the perils of public debt these grifters are racking up federally? 🤔

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