Most Americans are profoundly affected by debt. One of the greatest contributors to that economic anchor are people with student loans. Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced a very ambitious student debt relief plan as a part of her campaign, a couple of weeks ago. According to Sen. Warren, the plan would give relief to around 95% of the Americans dealing with crushing school debt. Sen. Warren’s announcement also included a sober reminder that the issue of high student debt is the result of a failed ideology surrounding our country and economy.
We got into this crisis because state governments and the federal government decided that instead of treating higher education like our public school system — free and accessible to all Americans — they’d rather cut taxes for billionaires and giant corporations and offload the cost of higher education onto students and their families. The student debt crisis is the direct result of this failed experiment.
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A poll done conducted by Business Insider shows that 57% of Americans polled are all for Sen. Warren’s plan for student debt relief. Least surprising is that 82% of respondents with existing or previously existing student debt support the plan. More inspiring is that 54% of respondents “who didn't take out any student loans to pay for higher education support the plan,” and “53% of those who didn't attend college or graduate school,” support this ambitious plan. This is a blow to the conservative fairytale that people looking for debt relief are snowflakes that want a handout. The majority of people don’t see it that way it seems.
Whether or not you or a dependent in your life has been saddled with student debt, you likely understand how limiting and stressful that experience can be. Why is it that the majority of people support helping to relieve their fellow Americans of undo stresses? It’s hard to say exactly, but a big part of it is that we all know, deep down inside, that many of us have had to, and and many more of us will continue to, depend on the kindness of our fellow travelers to get through this life.