I wanted to make this comparison (since I want something to be done even if it isn't a direct canceling of the debt) but there is a key difference; the governme

I wanted to make this comparison (since I want something to be done even if it isn't a direct canceling of the debt) but there is a key difference; the government bought the toxic assets to stabilize financial institutions. I don't know all of the details but it seems it also bought shares of the institutions it was savings at super low prices. This in addition the the the amount that was paid back under the TARP means that it was net cost neutral (depending on how you count inflation, etc). To cancel students loans would mean getting 0% back on the entire ammount. An student loan equivilent of the TARP would be extending the loan payment period, adjusting the interest rate, pausing interest for a period, and other progams to ease the burden of the loans but still keep them on the books.