It most definitely is not a bad thing. However, let's define what exactly we're talking about here before disagreeing just to disagree. We're talking about higher education, a degree at a 4 year University, correct?

In that case there is a lot more to take into account, it is not simply "investing in education" at that point.

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I know there are some militant neo-cons here, but the government is using a handout to give the lowest percentage point for a loan you can get, and good on them.

Yes, having funds readily available to people who could not attend college by their own means should have an avenue to make that happen. However, there should be stipulations. In the end it is still a loan, and there are people on the hook for the investment being made - the taxpayers.

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Sure there is waste, and people default on the loan, but so what?

As with any fiscal issue, you always account for waste. The problem isn't that there is waste, it is the amount of waste that is being deemed acceptable. There are ways to mitigate your risk, and they should be taken advantage of.

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I think a lot of your are so off base that the word "hand out" makes you morally opposed to it. There are certain buzzwords that illicit an emotional response, and that makes y'all puppets.

I take exception to this statement for a number of reasons. I didn't take a "handout" from the government. My parents could have easily paid for my education on their own, but instead they chose to make me learn the hard way. I didn't take a handout to live it up for 4 years on the taxpayers' dime, with little to no care for what happened to my future.

Yes, certain buzzwords are used and they do illicit an emotional response, sometimes for no reason, but for me and my particular circumstance it stirs about great emotion.