re: U.S. poised to forgive $108 billion in student debt

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How do you calculate that? Ultimately someone somewhere sets a formula for determining how each degree's limits are set.

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Calculate it based on job outlook and demand. There is a higher risk associated with some degrees versus others. When you fill out a loan application you have to specify your major and your anticipated graduation date, so adding those statistics in with current/future demands in the job outlook... It's not rocket science. The way they give the money out now just assumes everyone is going to get a great paying job in their chosen field. Since this method is failing and leading to government burden, lets go ahead an continue with it. It's not like we have any other deficit.

If someone shows up and wants to hand me $20k, I'm not turning it down. I learned that in college

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And that there are pros and cons to it (mostly pros, in the long-term, in my view), but you're not thinking this completely through.

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Well, my idea may not be the best, but I've not seen any others offered on here. All you see is people saying..."paid my debt" or "damn millennials, blah blah" Those are awesome additions to the conversation.

This system doesn't work and I'm just curious what others think we should do. Saying, pay your debt, or don't assume so much risk isn't a solution. Some people probably don't give a rats arse about paying their debt back. Others are simply using the system that was created. You're a damn smart individual if you manage to get most of your debt forgiven by using the system as it was designed. People blame the users though when the problem is the system.

Probably about 1/2-1/3rd of the students in college

Pslf won't start forgiveness of loans for a few years. Its a 10year program and stared a few years ago.

It is tax less for the beneficiaries, yeah.

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Calculate it based on job outlook and demand. There is a higher risk associated with some degrees versus others.

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Underwriting is more an art than a science in every event. Each entity that does this type of calculation picks and chooses which statistic to use and how to weight them. My point is that the government should not be given the discretion to do this type of calculation.

The idea is to shrink the role of government in education and in citizen's lives, not give them a way to manipulate them into choosing how to educate themselves.

Also what happens with mid-college career changed?

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The idea is to shrink the role of government in education and in citizen's lives, not give them a way to manipulate them into choosing how to educate themselves.

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So make it private with some regulations so that loan interest is done like it is now...deferrable, lower rates, etc.

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Also what happens with mid-college career changed?

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Well, you've either increased or decreased risk, so your overall value goes up/down. Unfortunately for you its like now trading in a vehicle that you're upside down in...so hopefully you've chosen a degree that increases your value.

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But don't borrowers have to pay tax on the forgiven portion of the loan? So, it isn't truly "forgiven" entirely.

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This depends. If we are discussing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program which is set to mature soon, the forgiven portion is not taxed.

I am not certain about other programs.

The goal of a public university is to educate and develop its populace. It is not and should not be a factory to produce only high income earning jobs after school. it's part of a non-profit service to the people of the state first.