Really well-written and presented, Kim. Great use of personal experience to bolster your argument.

I was the first person in my family to go to college and went in totally unprepared for the financial responsibilities. If I'd stayed at Cleveland State, however, I'm sure I'd be debt-free by now.

Instead I had this crazy idea about attending Columbia University and living in New York. This means that 13 years after graduating I've still got over $18,000 in student loan debt - down from $93,000 when I graduated.

I'd have zero problem paying back what I owe if I were able to find a decent paying job with which to do that.

I'd have long ago paid off the principle ($24.000), if I had been able to find and keep a decent paying job with benefits. That's yesterday's world and the contract jobs I've had just barely keep me paying the minimum.

Ironically enough, now that I've been out of work since October 2019 and collecting stimulus money and enhanced unemployment benefits, I've been paying that sucker down like a champ. My next scheduled payment isn't due until January 2022 and I'm still throwing everything I can at it.

I've long been an advocate for reparations to African Americans in this country and would happily pay higher taxes to eliminate their student loan debt.

Thanks for writing this although the title did get my back up just a wee bit. We could easily cut several billion from our current "defense" budget and wipe out poverty in this country including onerous student loan debt.

It's a brutal world and I've been a lot luckier than most.