Here's what Americans think of Elizabeth Warren's plan to cancel student debt

[BeckyDem]

( Her policies reach out to millions. )

Published: May 3, 2019 9:42 a.m. ET

People are concerned about the impact of student debt, polls show, and they are thirsty for proposals to address it

Since Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, announced her plan last month to wipe away the student loans of millions of Americans as part of her presidential campaign, there’s been debate in the policy community about whether it’s a good idea.

But some polling data published this week indicates voters are less conflicted.

Nearly two-thirds of registered voters polled by news site, The Hill, and market research company, Harris-X, said they would support a plan to make public colleges tuition-free and cancel most existing student loans. The tenets of the plan were presented to voters without Warren’s name attached.

Separately, a poll conducted by Business Insider and SurveyMonkey, found that 57% of Americans at least somewhat support Warren’s plan.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/voters-have-responded-to-elizabeth-warrens-plan-to-cancel-student-debt-2019-05-03?reflink=MW_GoogleNews

[Turbineguy]

1. Most normal people would agree

that a society that invests in education will be better off in many ways.

[BeckyDem]

2. Yes, its a concept not new to Americans but became sidelined

with university following a business model, something that was not the basis before we had the Reagan Revolution.

He did a great deal of damage and we're still seeing the terrible consequences decades later.

[HopeAgain]

8. With a less educated society

come leaders like Trump. I don't doubt there is a direct connection.

[Chin music]

3. Sounds like she HAS A PLAN FOR THAT.

Teachers come prepared to class. Love it.

[BeckyDem]

4. She is so good at it!

Love her!

[Chin music]

5. There's no denying she's done her prep.

And she has the zeal and voice to get it done imho. Dems care, and it shows.

[BeckyDem]

6. Super smart, and a great comminmcator on policy.

She can explain why anti-trust laws are important and how it hurts the small business owners when giants get away with too much concentrated power. She will accomplish this on student debt issue too.

I am very excited about this race.

[Chin music]

7. Me too!

[FakeNoose]

9. Her plan looks awesome, from what I've seen & heard

Maybe the US would be able to turn the corner on the charter schools movement (Betsy's baby) by re-educating those kids in liberal arts colleges and universities paid for by all Americans.

[BeckyDem]

12. I hope so too, we are long past due!

[onit2day]

19. DeVos has made such a mess of public education. Failure at every level.

[monmouth4]

10. If we don't get the elementary schools straightened out under DeVos, no one will be accepted in any

colleges. She (DeVos) needs to go and we (educators) need to bring these students up to date in their studies.

[BeckyDem]

11. Truth!

[Chin music]

15. i second that emotion.

[BeckyDem]

14. It's another reason he will lose the primary race.

[jalan48]

17. Millions of younger voters will not be happy with Biden's support for this.

[Chin music]

23. It's possible he changed his mind. Who knows?

I've seen this posted several times. After a while it becomes suspicious as to the motive in my mind. We got it. Meanwhile, what if Joe or anybody else agrees w E Warren TODAY? That's what I care about.
The difference in what these..."This is what they did then" stories I see here, is that Democrats, a highly educated party, can actually CHANGE their position based on new analysis, based on new information. Then SAY they have a new position, and most importantly FOLLOW THROUGH with the promise and enact the very legislation suggested above. They can be trusted to say what they do, and do what they say. Compare and contrast to todays enemy of the people, the gop.
Here's my question, do you honestly believe Joe Biden of today wouldn't possibly change his stance? I surely think he would. I think the time that vote was taken student loans were manageable bc, there was a middle class and even if you had to, you could take a factory job (not that anythings wrong w that), and pay it off that way. Things have changed.
Time to figure out how we can make Democrats win landslides bc that's the only way we can defeat the software in the boxes it seems. Our message and platform planks are well thought out, and helpful to every American, ALL OF US.
When we tell people about it, educated people get the message and vote Blue. We have a very very cool perspective on life. Aimed at lifting ALL of us together.
If this room keeps 'this' up (MY OPINION), by then a LOT of people will be burned out or disillusioned. Why even hurt any of us? that's the GOPs job it seems. Once a story is posted, after the first few times it's thrown up, it seems to me to be counter productive. (Not factually wrong, just Unhelpful in building us all up...where we are TODAY. Of course, it's clearly up to you, and I'm not trying to tell you what to do. I'm just saying.
Disillusionment and fragmentation of the party isn't how we win Blue Wave Part 2. Think deeper maybe? I'm open to being wrong if i am. Just throwing that out there.

[BeckyDem]

26. It comes down to policies and then trust.

The candidates really aren't all the same, but I hear what you're trying to clarify. I don't get the impression he is going to support the policies that Warren does, but that is fine, its why we have primaries. No one should be afraid of marked differences, its an exciting time for them to get their ideas out there and we get to judge.

[Chin music]

27. I hear you.

I just think folks evolve on issues as you get older and see more results of decisions made earlier in life. I was using EWs idea as an example i guess. Good thoughts BeckyDem.

[BeckyDem]

33. Back at you, Chin music!

[onit2day]

16. Many more supported Bernie's plan for tuition free public colleges. Love Warren and Bernie

True progressives with working plans and legislation already in motion.

[BeckyDem]

20. I don't pay much attention to polls about any candidate but yea, the polls to look at are

about the policies. This is a clear winner, and its a reflection of Americans wanting fairness they deserve.

[bloom]

18. I think her plan needs some tweaking

But I think it's good to have a plan. It's a good start.

Between tuition increases and the high-interest rates - people with high debt need some sort of fix.

I think cutting the debts in half would be a simple solution.

[mtnsnake]

21. Her plan to cancel all student debt would mean an instant 2020 loss if that's her platform

Warren is one of my favorite politicians ever, but in a general election, her plan would be viewed by too many ignorant voters as just another handout. I like that she's for free college tuition, though.

[BeckyDem]

22. I don't think you're looking at the level of support this has as a policy, with her or without her.

[mtnsnake]

24. You might be right

Maybe I should put a little more faith in the polls on that issue, but I guess I get a little skeptical on some of the polls out there.

Anyway, I still don't think that policy would go over too well in a general election, but if I'm wrong, it sure won't be the first time.

[BeckyDem]

25. I certainly have been wrong before too. lol

Warren is behind a sensible fair minded policy. But we live in a country where increasing inequality comes in many forms and has become a norm, so to speak. This predates Trump, and we must be bold now, imo.

[Chin music]

29. +1

[Ohiogal]

28. mtnsnake, I agree

First off, let me say that I love everything about Liz Warren, I endorse her here on DU, and I would vote for her in a heartbeat.

But -- I do hear lots of conversation among brain dead conservatives. And they will definitely think this plan of Warren's is just another taxpayer handout by a loony lib that saves an irresponsible person who made a lot of bad choices from falling into debt. And they will bemoan that their tax money will be used to bail these losers out. It's very sad, but that is how it's going to fall out, I'm afraid.

Most of my conservative relatives think Warren is a "loony lib" anyway.

[Chin music]

30. +1

You too.

[handmade34]

31. love Warren

and her real world policies... student debt is keeping a lot of people from succeeding and we need serious reform

[BeckyDem]

34. Thank you for your kind words, the kids need our help big time.

[handmade34]

35. not just kids

...it is a serious concern for many people of all ages (I had to quit work to take care of my dad and now my partner... I still have $60K in student loans... luckily they will die with me)

More than any other generation, (those 37-50) are still paying student loan debt for their own college and graduate education while also paying for their children’s student loans and college expenses...and, it’s affecting their retirement savings...

https://www.creditsesame.com/blog/savings/generation-x-juggle-student-loan-debt-from-kids-with-their-own/

...the number of people 60 and older with student loans quadrupled from about 700,000 to 2.8 million individuals between 2005 and 2015. The average debt owed by older borrowers also nearly doubled during that time, going from $12,000 to $23,500.
Most older people borrowed for college or cosigned student loans on behalf of their kids and grandchildren. But some Americans 50 and older took on debt to finance their own education...nearly 40 percent of federal student loan borrowers 65 or older are in default...

https://www.aarp.org/money/credit-loans-debt/info-2017/student-loans-debt-repayment-retirement.html

[BeckyDem]

36. So sorry, that is crazy.

It never had to be this way in America but here we are.

[saljr1]

32. Warren has a plan to even the playing field for the middle class and poor and Biden has no plan.

All this time Biden took to get in the race and doesn't have any ideas what he going to do for Americans? He has to do more than attack Trump. I will support any Democrat that is the nominee but if Joe thinks he can just run against Trump and not come up with ideas he will not be the nominee. There are too many good candidates.

[DesertRat]

37. Eliminating student debt would help so many Americans

[BeckyDem]

40. The people want it, and it is crucial our lawmakers heed the call.

[nolabear]

38. Thank goodness people are paying attention to policy this time.

Every single candidate needs to make policy clear within the next couple of months so we don’t get blown over by the inevitable shitstorm 45’s minions are cooking up.

[BeckyDem]

39. +10 That is exactly how I see it too.

The con artist is ready to bullshit his way through another campaign.