SpareChange: Are There Viable Possibilities Now for Student Loan Reform?

Thanks to Spare Change News for inviting me to write an op-ed after the election results. This piece offers 9 solutions to solving the student lending crisis (mind you, that's the short list).

Here's the piece in its entirety, and below is a snippet:

It’s hard to avoid the clichéd statement—and every pundit has been saying it over and over again—this was truly an historic election. Not only was President Barack Obama re-elected, but a number of very progressive candidates, such as Elizabeth Warren, seized seats in Congress as well. It seems clear: the values of the American public are changing.

When it comes to people who are struggling or unable to pay off their student loans, Warren’s win is significant for several reasons. First, Warren is not a fan of student lenders. She was also behind the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which is now working in earnest on issues relating to the student lending crisis. Moreover, Warren once said, “Student loan debt collectors have power that would make mobsters envious.” While Warren is a freshman senator, she is joining several colleagues who are genuinely concerned about Americans who are struggling or unable to pay off their student loans. If she, along with Senators Brown (D-OH), Harkin (D-IA), and others, can garner bipartisan support for legislation that will bring relief of some sort to distressed or defaulted borrowers, the indentured educated class might just see actual results in the coming years.

Four Years of College, and What Do You Get? A Crappy Job and a Load of Debt

A great song by Ben Grosscup about what happens when you go to college, graduate, and then wind up indebted with a terrible job.

What do you think about this song? Does it resonate? Why or why not?

B-Day Wish

Thanks to so many of you who have already wished me a happy birthday (it's tomorrow). On top of that, AEM recently turned 2! Help my birthday wish come true and throw in a few dollars to help me get back to DC and speak on behalf of the indentured educated class. The time is now! Things have changed on the Hill, and we must begin lobbying harder than ever before. Every dollar counts.

So, no surprise, you wanna know what my my birthday wish is? Raise money to get me back to DC, walking the musty halls, with all that peeling paint and all those super bored, yet friendly guardsmen, to speak with Congressional leaders about ways in which to solve the student lending crisis. Golly! I already told you that, didn't I? Oh well, a birthday girl forgets after she's hoped for some birthday presents.

But waita minute. Just wait one minute. What the heck am I talkin' about? I don't wish to speak with our leaders, but rather list out all the plans I have to actually solve the problem. I got 'em, folks. I do!

Truth be told, AEM is struggling to stay afloat, so your donation - whatever amount it may be - will help it survive.

 Donate today!

-Cryn
Founder and Exec. Dir.
All Education Matters

"Who the hell would put such an ugly doll on my cake? I wanted donations for the indentured educated class!"

Rolling Jubilee: You Are Not A Loan

Occupy Wall Street has launched an ingenious campaign, something that is truly beyond capitalism. Just as they have stepped in to help victims of Sandy (OPERATION Occupy Sandy), the collective group of dreamers, activists, and community lovers have decided a new angle to the solving the debt crisis - a bailout for the people and by the people. The People's Bailout, cleverly called a Rolling Jubilee, begins on November 15th!

Election 2012 Result: Forecast for Student Loan Borrowers

I have been asked to write an OP-ED for SpareChange about the way in which the 2012 election will affect student loan borrowers. Stay tuned for that analysis.