In many countries in the world education from primary to college is free. An example: In Mexico one can obtain an education for free all the way through university; you do not even have to take a qualifying test, just apply. Mexico’s university, UNAM, is considered one of the finest university in Latin America. UNAM is a government owned and government run university, though it maintains anonymity from the government. There are private universities in Mexico, so, you do have a choice. In Mexico, an education is greatly emphasized, for the government believes that this is the way to greater prosperity, and that all of its citizens deserves an education.
The United States also believes in education and certainly encourages it, but there are no public universities in the U.S. beyond the Junior colleges,which is a good start. The government loan is a fair way to make it possible for the poorer groups to get an education, but it burdens the individual with a debt that could take many years to repay.
The question that needs to be answered: is why can a poor country, like Mexico, be able to provide free education for its citizens and one of the wealthiest country in the world can not offer such a benefit for its own citizens? One of the answers is, it is not good business, meaning the capitalist system demands that the universities operates like any other enterprise, to make a profit for itself and all those it involves.
If the U.S. really believes in the educational systems, there needs to be an alternative to the capitalist system and some form of forgiveness needs to be installed so that all those who desire an education can receive it, without penalty, and not only the wealthy and privilege classes.
I have witnessed this first hand, I have a son that has only recently graduated from a university, in today’s job market my son remains unemployed. When he does find employment, it will require many years for him to have an income large enough to give him a decent living, and when he does have a good salary, it will be reduced again by making payments to the government. Some I know were in their fifties before their student loan was re-payed; where is the justice in that? With his education my son will pay higher taxes and to contribute to society in higher level form by his job. This is a fairer way to repay the government, rather than to be strap him with a debt for most of his working-adult life.