“I paid off every dime of my student loans. Took me 8 years and going to school every other year, but it got done.
Why should I have to pay because other people were fiscally irresponsible?”
In a true, non socialist Republic, you shouldn’t. I agree.
But we don’t. We live in an increasingly socialistic/communistic country. The reality is that with the current monetary system we have, the national debt IS “us having to pay because other people were fiscally irresponsible.” The way this system is set up, it allows a welfare state that ALL of us pay for. And the irresponsible aren’t just the welfare queens. No, the greatest irresponsibility is those who have set economic policy, the politicians, and the idiots called the FED.
I remember Freepers encouraging college students to “leverage” themselves with college debt, because they will have the better pay to pay it back. Right here on good ol’Free Republic. I don’t remember the handle of those doing so, but I still wonder and hope the Freepers asking the questions didn’t listen.
We need a reset, a default. Then our politicians, and those who don’t want to be productive, will have to figure out the hard facts of life, finally. Until then, yes, we do, and have been, paying for other people’s irresponsibility, for many years now.
“We need a reset, a default.”
Great. I’m not paying for your loans unless you’re my wife. I already de-leveraged long ago. My whole family has, and is working on de-leveraging.
By the time we are finished, we’ll have a house free and clear and enough cars for everyone, all paid off and free and clear. We are getting there. 2 more cars and the house, and then we’ll be done.
“Then our politicians, and those who don’t want to be productive, will have to figure out the hard facts of life, finally.”
Not on the backs of the folks who de-leveraged you don’t. What am I to think if you push debt amnesty? I spent 4 years of my life working and waiting and saving because I wanted to avoid debt.
“Until then, yes, we do, and have been, paying for other people’s irresponsibility, for many years now.”
I have a choice, you can’t force me to pay a dime. Let’s make a deal here. You hire me and I’ll help you pay your loans off by making you money.
Or don’t hire me and leave me alone. Why are you making me pay for bills I never incurred and cannot afford to pay?
“We need a reset, a default.”
I almost agree. There is something about a default then a period of redemption that I find compelling. However given the elderly that would be left to die, I can’t agree.