Who says this is a "do nothing" congress?

[Doktor Howl]

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/student-debt-stalemate-will-hammer-millions-undergrads-6C10480484

They're doing something.  Specifically, they're fucking students in the pooper.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

DAMN KIDS GETTIN ABOVE THEIR RAISIN', TRYIN TA BE PENCIL PUSHERS
GIT YER NOSE OUT THAT GODDAMN BOOK AND GIT A REAL JOB
             /

[Bruno]

Sallie Mae CEO Jack Remondi said poor planning exacerbates a borrower's burden, regardless of the rate on the loan. Sallie Mae is the largest provider of private student loans.

"If you overborrow, whether the rate is 4 percent or 7 percent, you're still going to encounter difficulties," Remondi said. "A plan that takes into consideration what your income potential is going to be when you graduate and what that debt burden is going to be is critical."

Sounds like they want to herd people into more "profitable" majors.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

FUUUUUUUCK.

I'm already coming out of community college with over $20k in debt, with three more years at university. I am going to try to get a McNair scholarship but even if I do I can't imagine I'll walk away from my undergrad with less than $40k in debt.

THAT IS COMPLETELY INSANE AND NOT OK. FOR THE RECORD.

[Cain]

Sallie Mae CEO Jack Remondi said poor planning exacerbates a borrower's burden, regardless of the rate on the loan. Sallie Mae is the largest provider of private student loans.

"If you overborrow, whether the rate is 4 percent or 7 percent, you're still going to encounter difficulties," Remondi said. "A plan that takes into consideration what your income potential is going to be when you graduate and what that debt burden is going to be is critical."

Sounds like they want to herd people into more "profitable" majors.

I think you're probably right.

A lot of percieved high-paying courses, such as law*, tend to be extremely expensive anyway, and often require additional training on top of the usual courses.  Which means you can keep on extracting those high fees.

*the actual average pay of a law graduate is pretty dismal.  You have a few high earners skewing the results, essentially.

[Left]

I'm hoping that I can qualify for the loan forgiveness thingie they offer for 10 years of public service.

...If I am actually in a bureaucracy as a somewhat less-fireable person than I currently am...think of all the FUN I could have.

...Everyone should have at least one anarchic mystic in their bureaucracy.

The Republicans, like their base, are putting their collective fingers in their collective ears and going "LALALALALALALA!"

This 8-year attack of rampant immaturity will be remembered.

[Cain]

Hah, no it wont.

Something something Kenyan President something socialism something who lost Syria something something fascist.

[Left]

Hah, no it wont.

Something something Kenyan President something socialism something who lost Syria something something fascist.

I'm thinking the college kids who are about to be fucked over.
...It drives me crazy what a short national memory we have.

[The Johnny]

here public school is actually free... need to claw your way thru the exam, cause only like 15% of those applying get in, but still, free!

[Cain]

Hah, no it wont.

Something something Kenyan President something socialism something who lost Syria something something fascist.

I'm thinking the college kids who are about to be fucked over.
...It drives me crazy what a short national memory we have.

Youth and college vote already overwhelmingly goes to the Democrats anyway.  Why would the Republicans care?  It's not their voters they'll be fucking over.

[Trivial]

Does somehow paying off my loans without ever getting the job I went to college for mean I win?  Do I get cake?

[tyrannosaurus vex]

Does somehow paying off my loans without ever getting the job I went to college for mean I win?  Do I get cake?

I can one up this. I never even went to college! And I still have debts!


Wait, that didn't work out the way it looked in my head..

[Left]

here public school is actually free... need to claw your way thru the exam, cause only like 15% of those applying get in, but still, free!

We wouldn't be complaining if the cost hadn't skyrocketed, TBH...and at the same time the crap economy makes it more likely the damn debts will be there forever, like our own personal little black cloud.

...This isn't the only thing making me afraid to go back to school, but it's part of it.  I have to take credits at the big-pants 4-year-college now, and the cost is double what my community college was.
I dread the idea of being worse than broke.  Right now I'm fairly broke but not in debt.  It could be worse.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Sallie Mae CEO Jack Remondi said poor planning exacerbates a borrower's burden, regardless of the rate on the loan. Sallie Mae is the largest provider of private student loans.

"If you overborrow, whether the rate is 4 percent or 7 percent, you're still going to encounter difficulties," Remondi said. "A plan that takes into consideration what your income potential is going to be when you graduate and what that debt burden is going to be is critical."

Sounds like they want to herd people into more "profitable" majors.

I think you're probably right.

A lot of percieved high-paying courses, such as law*, tend to be extremely expensive anyway, and often require additional training on top of the usual courses.  Which means you can keep on extracting those high fees.

*the actual average pay of a law graduate is pretty dismal.  You have a few high earners skewing the results, essentially.

Law and business aren't even on the scale for future "American expansion" degrees. Pretty much the only degrees which are are bio and chem degrees, and even those are up against a shitstorm of limited funding. America has essentially stated that it could give a flying fuck about being on the forefront of scientific advancement.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I think schools are still happily absorbing the morons who think an MBA or a law degree is a guarantee of a bright upper-middle-class future.