Robert ReichTotal student loan debt that would have been erased for millions of Americans: $400 billion
Total cost of the Trump tax cuts that largely benefited the wealthy and corporations: $1.9 trillion
This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.
Pusher Of Pixels (old account)And millions of average americans spending that money in local economies would produce FAR more tax revenue.
Literally shooting ourselves in the foot for purity
Jake Dahl@pixelpusher220 @rbreich I am not surprised. If the middle and lower class got actual help from the government (in this form) it would set a precedent that some groups besides the bourgeoisie can benefit from socialism.
Yeah, I do think that generally people should pay debts they incur (first and foremost those corps and PPP loans!). But the predatory lending that occurred and our society's general askance looks at trade labor that pushed so many to get useless degrees mandates a societal scale rectification.
But along with the loan forgiveness we also need to make basic college AND trade schools gov't funded - so we don't end up here again.
And while I'm neck deep in the pie in the sky solutions...maybe just maybe remind people that the gov't is supposed to help US, not prioritize corporations.
@pixelpusher220 @rbreich Very good reasoning. I agree. Unfortunately, corporations get some of the rights as citizens. Like speech. I wholeheartedly disagree with this. My version of a better country would be a mix of (actual) non-profit and government run institutions. Like banking, utilities, education, etc. The profit motive of giant corporations is killing the quality of everything around us.
@Jdahl @rbreich the problem IMO isn't that profit motive exists, but that we've been convinced that profit is the entire end game.
Capitalism was sold as a system, when its only a tool. Even a hammer can be used for doing harm.
Strong govt regulation is essential control that's sorely lacking unfortunately
Morgan ⚧️@pixelpusher220 @Jdahl @rbreich plus we have rules in most other subjects that minors can't sign contracts and be held to them, but I'll still be expected to pay for loans I took out as a minor