> Please, have your way with my anecdata, but I'd be much more interested in the argument that a $30K debt load for someone earning $45K is crippling. I was no

> Please, have your way with my anecdata, but I'd be much more interested in the argument that a $30K debt load for someone earning $45K is crippling. I was not offering a solution or even saying there are no problems. I was addressing a bold claim that Americans could once afford college by working part time, with the strong implication that this cannot be done anymore. I am not refusing to consider anything, and my scope was clearly defined by the claim that I quoted and to which I offered a refutation. Moving the conversation broader, you raise several issues. These are not relevant to the claim made and addressed. You have inferred that my post is smug criticism of real issues that exist (some of which you have touched on). That was not my intention, and I promise I did not feel smug in responding. The only point you've raised that addresses my post around student debt is that the average $27K of debt that students graduate with could have gone to a down payment on a house. Ignoring the fact that real estate for residence is historically a terrible investment, how would $27K of debt somehow convert to a down payment? A down payment comes out of savings. The fact that a graduating student has debt implies they didn't have the cash to put toward a down payment. With the return to college still being large and positive, I would argue that this debt is typically well worth it.