Student loan debt

To the Editor: The Biden administration is considering canceling all or a large part of student loan debt. This is a very bad idea for many reasons. Many students work their way through college so they don't have debt when they graduate. Many young people decline to go to college because of the expense. Many parents and grandparents sacrifice personal needs in order to pay for their children's education to avoid loans. What do you tell them?

When someone borrows to buy a car or a home, that person makes a commitment to pay off that loan. When students borrow for college, they make a commitment to pay it off. Is the Biden administration going to forgive all debt? No chance. So why pay off just student debt? When you watch the students having frat parties, going to Cabo for spring break, and generally having the time of their life, it is hard to say forgive their debt. If they graduated with a real degree, they can afford to pay it off. If they majored in basket weaving or gender studies, too bad, so sad. Pay your debt.

The main beneficiaries of student loans are the universities who have lavish campuses and high-paid professors and administrators. They are the ones who generally encourage and guide students through the student loan process. Why? Because it is a huge source of revenue. It follows then that they should be the co-signers for those loans and should pay the debt, not the taxpayers, if the student defaults.

I believe junior colleges should be free of tuition and should expand curriculum tailored to trade skills, such as electrician, plumber and auto technician. I also would support expanding tuition assistance for college students following service to the U.S. military. Jim Costello

Sonora