Why I Defaulted on My Student Loans (Inside the mindset of the liberal entitlement philosophy)

New York Times ^ | June 6, 2015 | LEE SIEGEL

[Sir_Humphrey]

Years later, I found myself confronted with a choice that too many people have had to and will have to face. I could give up what had become my vocation (in my case, being a writer) and take a job that I didn’t want in order to repay the huge debt I had accumulated in college and graduate school.

Or I could take what I had been led to believe was both the morally and legally reprehensible step of defaulting on my student loans, which was the only way I could survive without wasting my life in a job that had nothing to do with my particular usefulness to society.I chose life. That is to say, I defaulted on my student loans.

As difficult as it has been, I’ve never looked back. The millions of young people today, who collectively owe over $1 trillion in loans, may want to consider my example.

[Sir_Humphrey]

More than any politician, more than any foreign threat, this is what going to doom the country. Not student loans, per se. It's the justification of fraud and the sense of entitlement that's going to break the bank and do us in. (If you really want to get depressed, check out the comments as most of those support the student. Then again we're talking NYT readers) The feds should put a levy against his future earnings until the debt is paid. Oh and NO credit (no credit cards, no mortgage) until he is paid up.

[Sir_Humphrey]

Please fix the typo in the title. Coffee hasn’t kicked in yet

[ealgeone]

This loser should never be able to borrow another dime for the rest of their life.

[pepsionice]

For this precise reason....I think all college loans ought to be limited to $30,000.

I worked with some gal who was approaching her 40th birthday, and the topic of finance came up one day. She admitted....she was still three years away from paying off her college debt. It was a massive amount that she borrowed for a private college deal and never equaled a great pay deal over the next twenty years. You can feel sorry for these people and their stupidity....but they owe someone that money and they need to pay-up.

[Gen.Blather]

http://money.cnn.com/2014/08/24/news/economy/social-security-student-debt/

Owing money to the government is like owing money to the Mafia or Satan, except they won’t follow you unto death to collect and the government will.

[kennedy]

Imagine the reaction if a conservative publication ran an article about a reporter who stopped paying taxes.

[headstamp 2]

Clear example of perpetual adolescence and sloth.

It’s OK though for some poor slob working stiff to subsidize his “feelings” and education while taking it in the shorts.

[Texas Eagle]

I chose life. That is to say, I defaulted on my student loans.

What a sick, twisted, demented mind.

[SMARTY]

It’s no different than outright theft or refusing to file income tax returns.

How come I can’t get away with this?

[rochester_veteran]

Upon graduating from college in May 2013, after my son and his wife found jobs, my son’s top financial priority was to get his student loans paid off. He told me he’s on schedule to have them paid off by September 2016 and he’s paying off my parent loans right now as his loans are paid off. The kid knows how to manage his money a heckuva lot better than I do!

[Texas Eagle]

Imagine the reaction if a conservative publication ran an article about a reporter who stopped paying taxes.

Or a Harlem Congresshole.

[IncPen]

Despite the illogical gymnastics of the author, someone paid for his education and he benefitted from the theft.

[sauropod]

Defaulting the way he did - he basically stole the money.

Now he’s trying to excuse what he did.

[IYAS9YAS]

This moron will soon realize that they can come after him twenty-plus years down the road to collect that debt, especially if they are federally backed. And federally backed student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy.

[Sir_Humphrey]

Despite the illogical gymnastics of the author, someone paid for his education and he benefitted from the theft.

The author acknowledges this but doesn't care because he feels he is entitled to it.

[Sir_Humphrey]

This moron will soon realize that they can come after him twenty-plus years down the road to collect that debt, especially if they are federally backed. And federally backed student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy.

Thank you...I did not know this. Still it was the entitlement philosophy and the amen chorus from the NYT comments that grated on me.

[4yearlurker]

My wife has been working with the same doctors for going on 16 years now. One doctor told her he is still paying his student loan.

[OpusatFR]

I can understand someone who through lack of experience and education, not to say naivete takes on thousands of dollars from a for-profit “university” diploma mill.

Some leeway should be made for them because of the predatory nature of the loans.

This clown understood completely what he was borrowing and now thinks sticking me and other taxpayers with his bill is appropriate.

Pay it, kid. I worked as a janitor for a housing complex to pay for my education. I wasn’t too good for that work.

[zzwhale]

scumbag libtards can justify anything in their immoral minds

[Maine Mariner]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, is not forgiven debt considered taxable income from the tax code and must be reported on a 1040 and is subject to federal income tax.