Tuesday, May 28, 2013

The Guardian - Student debt crisis: 'it's like carrying a backpack filled with bricks'

Here is a snippet from my latest piece, which was published by the Guardian today:

Amy Diede homeschools her two children – Caleb, 9, and Ashley, 8 – and is married to a devoted husband and father, Christian. Even though Amy has a master's in psychology, and until recently was a professional herself, Christian is now the breadwinner for the family, working as a cardiovascular nurse on short-term contracts across the country.

At the moment, the Diede family lives in California. Christian wants to own a home again, but for now they are a roaming family whose home is a 400-square-foot RV. A big part of the problem is Amy's student loan debt. It does not merely affect their bank statement, it has found its way into their daily thoughts and life. Together, Amy and Christian owe over $82,000 in student loans.
The rest of the article can be read in its entirety here


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

In her article, Ms. Johannsen mentions that Amy Diede's younger brother, who didn't go to college, is in a better financial situation than she is. Maybe the answer to the problem of student debt is for fewer people to go to college?

Anonymous said...

Published "on" the Guardian website, not published "by" the Guardian! Big difference.

Once again, the master of self-publicity makes things more important than they are. Like the amazing not-published book that keeps being not-published but somehow referenced in everything you write...

That said, at least there's some comments on your piece at the Guardian. At least someone is listening out there, even if this place is like a graveyard.

Anonymous said...

@12:21 Here's a thought that will hopefully provoke some discussion: Naivete about the value of education has allowed colleges and universities to charge inflated prices for a shoddy product. Holding student debtors to the original terms of their loans is necessary because it will give people starting college now an incentive to demand education that is affordable and relevant. What do the members of the indentured educated class think? Does the fact that you are being made to suffer for the moral improvement of future generations make you feel any better?

Anonymous said...

I keep asking myself what it is that this snarky anonymous poster is getting out of spending his or her valuable time following a blog that clearly does not affect him or her. I'd much rather spend my time helping others or enjoying my friends and family than reading a blog that doesn't concern me. Only a miserable person enjoys the sport of trying to make others feel bad.

If you don't like Cryn, her upcoming book or her cause, then be an adult about it and stay away. She has been a godsend to us and given us a voice through our oppression that most Americans in the modern day cannot comprehend. Go away.

Thanks, Cryn, for all you do.

Anonymous said...

I am so happy that Yoko Ono can speak on behalf of her selfish and hypocritical generation and express pain for all that suffer in this world:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9581MptOf8

Anonymous said...

The anonymous poster attacking Cryn is Mr. Infinity. He's not so anonymous now thanks to TTR.

Anonymous said...

What is TTR?

Maybe Mr. Infinity would benefit from some student debt himself. It would inspire him to spend his time more productively by working rather than Internet bullying. He certainly has more time on his hands than I do.

Anonymous said...

^ I don't think an effin' STATUE has more "time on its hands" than you do.

Anonymous said...

@7:25 Your right, I am kind of an asshole. On the other hand I truly believe that you young people ought to stop bemoaning the way the world has treated you and get on with your lives. The world doesn't work the way your parents told you it does, to large extent it never did. You need to learn how to survive and complaining will not help you do that.