Student loan forgiveness isn’t free, cheap

LETTERS LETTERS@USATODAY.COM

A college tuition debt forgiveness program — like the one Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is proposing — is one step further toward a society that expects everything for free and takes no responsibilities for its actions. It lies deeply rooted in the basic false assumption that everyone deserves and needs a higher education. What everyone needs is further education.

College is overpriced with resort-like facilities, teaching many subjects that have no relevance. A bachelor’s degree should be two years of core subjects, rather than repeating basic classes that are taught in high school.

Instead of forgiving student debt, how about eliminating student loans? Or at least hold the individual student to the same loan qualification standards that apply to all other loans. If you or your family don’t qualify, you can’t get the money. Take a year or more off to earn money and explore possibilites. Can you imagine what would happen if no one showed up because they can’t afford college and can’t qualify for a loan? College fees would come tumbling down, degree mills would disappear, and facilities would be built for need rather than appearance or recruitment.

There’s no perfect answer to paying for college, but forgiving loans is socialistic and detrimental to our democracy. Robert Kanocz

Mesa, Ariz.

FACEBOOK USA TODAY OPINION

I don’t think of myself as an intransigent Republican, but when faced with a Democratic Party whose only idea seems to be that everyone gets free stuff, what other choice do I have? Michael Langlinais

If we were able to reduce taxes for corporations and millionaires, I think we can cancel college debt for students. Jerry Davis

The more desperate Democrats get, the more free stuff they promise to give away. Brent Jorgenson