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Endorsements for this Idea
Nonprofits and bloggers can formally endorse an idea they support. 34 current endorsements:
- thecalakacompany
- Lukensuze
- Stuff, Ramblings, Nonsense, Win and Awesome
- The Unknown Candidate
- sixhoursago
- Alia's Thoughts
- Wawa's World
- Marie Duggan
- Sqibs (R)
- Student Loan Justice
- www.studentloanjusticeCA.org
- Real Life in Lower Alabama
- American Refugee
- Got Lost
- Make A Film Foundation
- Melvin Butler
- Beekman Notes
- Earthen Foothold: or, The First Chakra
- United States Student Association
- DreamActivist
- Career ConceptZ
- ZapRoot
- Forgive Student Loans
- City Shepards
- Zoepolitics
- Rhodian Attic
- PurrPrints
- Vapid Evaporation
- Harrisburg School District Youth Build Program
- Johnson is my First Name
- Duck 'N Cover
- Peace in the Shadows
- Seitempfu.com
- From the Sole
With over $100,000 in student loans for undergrad and grad school, I am hoping that my children do not need loans to go to school. Along with the "call to service" requested by Obama, I would love to see students either just before college or just after be required to serve their country either in a type of grassroots organization like Americorp or Peacecorp, military, or something similar in which all food and lodging is provided in this country or around the world. As a parent, I also think this should be available to families as well. Possibly each year of serving could cancel at least one full year of student loans (private or public, despite the amount of loans taken) or allow one full year of college (at least). Currently the financial reimbursement for loans whether in the military or grassroots organizations doesn't cover even begin to cover many of the loans people have to take out (my husband is in military).
Suggested by Kerry Dyer on 01/30/2009 @ 01:57PM PT
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As I return to school after raising my family and finally gaining some me time, I must use any and all resources at my disposal. This will be a great impedement for me as I am 48 years old and will be about 52 at graduation. However I am committed to this for myself and believe it is nesessary for me to obtain good career offers. I have a lot of experience in life, however this does not help much in my field of study. I will be in debt and hope some can be erased by some sort of volunteeing, or a hand up from the government. Forgiving my loans would start me out in a much better frame of mind and pocket. If loans could even be forstalled longer than 6 months that would make it much easier to get established in a position and free up my concern to focus on getting ahold of finances before they must be spent.
Suggested by karen stokes on 01/29/2009 @ 12:31PM PT
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I'm barely surviving as it is. I am single, ends are barely meeting without the loans ($28k) on top of it all. I don't know what I'm going to do if my paycheck is affected. Rent, transportation, food take up all I have. I want forgiveness for even part of my loans. My parents didn't/couldn't help me, so I did what I could to help myself - looks like it wasn't enough.
Bailing out the greedy people didn't help, as it is, the bailout was supposed to help those with mortgages. Why can the people be bailed out for a change instead of having to pay for it all?
Our new prez has got some serious thinking to do... and some direction to reverse.
Suggested by Wendy W on 01/29/2009 @ 11:14AM PT
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According to the poverty standards of the government, I couldn't quilify for any scholarships. I'm a 4.0 student, Latina. My household income id of $65,000. I have two more children that go to college and we are paying for their education as well. I'll be graduating next August with a Master of Communication in Digital Media and about $75,000 in student loans. Just imagine how hard this will be to pay with this income, I hope that we can get some break, like maybe not charging any interest or lower the interests, from 6.5% to may be 1% or even 0% that will help a lot of us.
Suggested by Rubi Romero on 01/24/2009 @ 05:13PM PT
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Why don't they restore the original right to those who have become disabled and cannot get gainful employment and have been on social security for years have the complete right to forgiveness. If they had not intended to use it why then would they have it on the books. I for one am ready for some of the original rights and rules of the student loan industry to get back to how it was and not what it has become. I was one of those mistreated and my family threatened with bodily harm and my government has turned its back on most of us by taking away our bankruptcy rights and that is just the beginning. Please restore our rights as we are living breathing American citizens that have paid for over two decades and are still paying for something that started out at $1500.00 and is now $4500.00. I am 68 and disabled and am not able to get out of my house .
Suggested by Marilynn Piszczek on 01/24/2009 @ 09:59AM PT
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How can we get everyone to stop paying their student loan debt at once?
That would surely bring change.
Student loan debt is a major cause of this recession.
Suggested by C Lee on 01/23/2009 @ 05:50PM PT
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I vote that this should be in the top three so that our generation can start using our money to finance our dreams which will in turn jumpstart the economy. Coming out of college debt free will allow is all to move in the direction of our aspirations.
Suggested by Katie Sereika on 01/22/2009 @ 04:03PM PT
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*** Replace all income taxes with a national sales tax. ***
1. We'd have smaller government, because one of its biggest departments (and least efficient!) will be eliminated. Think of the savings in paper too: no tax forms, no receipts, etc.
2. Everyone making any income, legal or not, will be paying the same taxes: 0% on income and whatever on sales. Thus we'll get tax money from who knows how many illegals, crooks, etc.
3. We'll all save more money by simply spending less.
Suggested by J. Andrew Smith on 01/22/2009 @ 10:46AM PT
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I pray the idea of student loan forgiveness becomes a reality. I became ill just after I graduated and have been unable to work for five years. I defaulted on my loan, as I was laying in bed, and the loan company tacked on a $20,000 fee on top of my loan. How is that helping me pay it off? The interest is $5.00/day. We're in a recession, I'm just getting better and am looking at a student loan that is 3 times what it was five years ago. Three times! That's not right, it's wrong. We bail out auto companies and let corporations through all kinds of money loop holes - so they make more money and stimulate people to spend. What about us? I'm told even if I am eligable for disability (which wouldn't serve my getting better or helping the economy by working) they'll not forgive my loan but garnish it instead? How is my $20,000 loan now $60,000 in five years? Please, will President Obama (whom I have a huge respect for) make things a bit more equal? Student loan forgiveness would help all Americans that bought into 'education would pay off' and make us feel that corporations and wealthy Americans weren't the only ones being looked after as precious commodities. Honestly, I'm concerned I can't afford to have children now or get a car - anything, really. At the rate this loan (which seems really Un-American for it to go that high in five years) is going - I'll never pay it off. $20,000 will end up being well over $100,000. How was that fair? If the corporations were bailed out and we KNOW the CEOs were still eating quite well and able to provide for their families - how can we not look at student loan forgiveness? Our dollars are what's paying all government programs and paychecks. Surely our wealthy country can afford this good-faith gesture. Sally Mae and other loan companies tactics are THE REASON that Americans are in this pickle. If it had been a fair trade, a $20,000 fee would not be looked at as loving nor fair. I really pray that the newly formed government takes these grievances seriously. The government needs stimulus and they need us to have purchase power again. As long as my fiance and I are paying over $500 a month in student loans, we're not putting money into ANYTHING else - even having children. Please, please don't continue to show Americans that the wealthy get out of everything and that we end up paying for it. Please think seriously about this good-faith gesture. I am grateful I live in a country where I can voice my prayer and my grievance. I am also grateful to now have an elected official that wants to hear things like this. Thank you, thank you.
Suggested by jessica lofthus on 01/21/2009 @ 05:23PM PT
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It would be nice to even be able to get a student loan in the current economy. I'm on a reimbursement plan with my employer, but am unable to get a loan for less than $5000 because no one will give loans out anymore.
In the "land of opportunity" it would be nice if the opportunity extended to everyone, not simply the poor and minority. I work just as hard as the next person, I should be entitled to an education.
Suggested by Heather Kerstanoff on 01/21/2009 @ 06:05AM PT
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