Pelosi joins Democrats' push for Republicans to act on student loan rates (What about Hussein?)

The Hill ^ | 4/21/12 | Mike Lillis

[Right Wing Assault]

80,000 in student loans. WHAT??? Did she never have a summer job? Did she not work during school?

It takes a LOT of hours at summer jobs and working through school to pay off $80,000 or even a fraction of that.

When I was in college 45 years ago, I paid most of my tuition with jobs. It was a whopping $750 total per semester for 18-19 credit hours. Now $750 won't buy ONE credit hour at a lot of schools. And most kids aren't carrying 18 hours anymore.

[BlatherNaut]

there is absolutely NO reason a healthy young person can't earn darn near ten thousand every summer. Minimum wage is 7 bucks an hour (maybe more, I don't know).

Those of us who worked our way through school and paid off our loans in a timely manner didn't have to contend with Obama's wretched economy.

"U.S. Teen Unemployment at Unprecedented Levels"

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/206588/20110831/us-unemployment-teens-obama-jobless.htm

[old and tired]

It takes a LOT of hours at summer jobs and working through school to pay off $80,000 or even a fraction of that.

My point is that the woman with the 80k in loans took out tuition, room and board, and apparently living expenses to attend a state school. Her parents contributed nothing and she also contributed nothing. If her parents were really unable to pay nothing, she should have gotten some financial aid. If they weren't incapable of paying, but simply choosing not to, then she should have been working her butt off during summers and breaks. No way she should have had to pay her entire state school education with student loans unless she was a) too lazy to work during college or b) spending foolishly. Either way, somebody, presumably her parents, should have smacked her upside the head while she was an undergrad.

[old and tired]

Those of us who worked our way through school and paid off our loans in a timely manner didn't have to contend with Obama's wretched economy.

I will agree the economy is in a depression. However, I still think kids can hustle waitressing, babysitting, and lawn mowing jobs. As a bonus, they're largely paid under the table. And if you can't get a job mowing lawns, you're just not trying.

I agree, tuitions are out of line with reality. I've been predicting for years that college tuitions are the next bubble that's going to burst. However, I think the number of people who actually need to be taking out loans that cover full tuition AND room and board are miniscule. The number of people who actually do take out the full amount is both staggering and frightening.

[BlatherNaut]

I agree, tuitions are out of line with reality.

That's the problem, in a nutshell.

The number of people who actually do take out the full amount is both staggering and frightening.

I'm not sure what the maximum student loan amount is this year (our kids who are in college managed to avoid taking out student loans thanks to scholarships, work, and help from us) but I don't think the maximum loan amount is sufficient to cover tuition, room, board and other essentials (for instance, each student is required to bring their own computer). State schools average close to $20 K per year, and private schools close to $50 K.

Another cause of education inflation is the frivolous course requirements. Courses in "diversity" and social science are required for an engineering degree.

Also, the part-time jobs that students used to rely on to work their way through school have been snapped up by desperate adults who've lost their full-time jobs, and by illegal aliens getting paid under the table.

[Right Wing Assault]

How do you earn $10,000 in a summer at $7 an hour? That’s 1400 hours. At 8 hours a day, that’s 175 days. at 5 days a week that’s 35 weeks. That’s a LONG summer.