https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-announces-additional-77-billion-approved-student-debt-relief-160000-borrowers
This brings the total under this administration to $167 Billion in relief for 4.75 million borrowers.
Centrists didn't want him to relieve student debt. Pretended his hands were tied. Said that we shouldn't try it on the grounds that it was an incomplete solution. Were content to abandon incrementalism entirely and let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Then Biden started forgiving student debt. Then the Supreme Court ruled in centrists' favor. Biden could have announced that he tried and abandoned it forever with some vague insincere horseshit about the fight not being over. To Biden's immense credit, he had a contingency plan ready to go. He has kept forgiving debt. It's been the high point of his presidency. He did exactly what I hoped he would do on this issue and this issue alone. He listened to progressives and ignored centrists, and he persevered instead of immediately giving up forever when he encountered the first setback. He did what he could with the tools at his disposal instead of pretending they don't exist.
I will not fault him on this. If only he acted this way about any other issue.
Centrists?
Most polling shows that student debt relief is highly popular, a boring centrist Democrat has been leading the charge for it, and centrist judges have been voting in favor of it.
It’s the extreme right that been pushing back against debt relief. The center of America wants it.
Centrists?
Yes. Centrists opposed it. I remember arguing with them about it. I listed some but not all of their arguments. Another one was that his hands were tied and he needed congress to pass it, with the standard addendum that progressives don't know how anything works. I remember pointing out that Chuck Schumer was asking for the same forgiveness that progressives were, and asking if Schumer didn't know how the Senate works. Yes, centrists opposed debt relief.
Biden listened to progressives. Biden persevered and didn't make stupid excuses.
Now centrists see that it's popular and want to take credit for progressive policy they opposed.
The broad fast debt relief that Biden wanted WOULD require Congress. That is a fact.
That said, the day the court struck down the broader plan, Biden announced he would be moving forward on slower tactical ways of working within other laws and programs that would be much harder to combat in court. Many were worried that this approach, sans new bipartisan legislation, would not cover as many people. That is likely true.
If someone was arguing with you that Biden could do nothing, then they clearly didn’t listen to Biden, because he gathered the press that afternoon and outlined a plan that he has been executing for the past 11 months.
Today, the Supreme Court sided with them. I believe the Court’s decision to strike down my student debt relief program was a mistake, was wrong.
I’m not going to stop fighting to deliver borrowers what they need, particularly those at the bottom end of the economic scale. So, we need to find a new way. And we’re moving as fast as we can.
First, I’m announcing today a new path consistent with today’s ruling to provide student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible as quickly as possible.
We will ground this new approach in a different law than my original plan, the so-called Higher Education Act. That — that will allow Secretary Cardona, who is with me today, to compromise, waive, or release loans under certain circumstances.
This new path is legally sound. It’s going to take longer, but, in my view, it’s the best path that remains to providing for as many borrowers as possible with debt relief.
I’ve directed my team to move as quickly as possible under the law. Just moments ago, Secretary Cardona took the first step to initially that — to initiate that new approach.
We’re not going to waste any time on this. We’re getting moving on it. It’s going to take longer, but we’re getting at it right away.
Second, we know what many borrowers will need to make their hard choices, which their — which their budgets are being strained now — when they start to repay their monthly loan payments this fall.
You know, we know that figuring out how to pay these added expenses can take time for borrowers, and they might miss payments at the front end as they get back into repayment.
Normally, this could lead some borrowers to fall into delinquency and default. But without their financial se- — it would hurt their financial security, and that’s not good for them or the economy. That’s why we’re creating a temporary, 12-month what we’re calling “on-ramp” repayment program.
Now, this is not the same as the student loan pause that’s been in effect for the past three years. Monthly payments will be due, bills will
notgo out, and interest will be accruing. And during this period, if you can pay your monthly bills, you should.
But if you cannot, if you miss payments, this “on-ramp” will temporarily remove the threat of default or having your credit harmed, which can hurt borrowers for years to come, because the Department of Education won’t refer borrowers. And the reason why that will work: They won’t refer borrowers who have missed payments to credit agencies for 12 months to give them a chance to get back up and running.
If someone was arguing with you that Biden could do nothing, then they clearly didn’t listen to Biden, because he gathered the press that afternoon and outlined a plan that he has been executing for the past 11 months.
They were arguing that before Biden signed debt relief.
So you were arguing with some randos on the internet, and those people thought debt relief would require a bill, and not executive action, and your take away was that all centrists didn’t want debit relief?
It was a common enough argument among centrists I interacted with that I reached the conclusion that it was the prevailing consensus.
It’s not belittling genocide opposition. It’s belittling those who hold democracy ransom over a single issue that they don’t understand, and weren’t even aware was happening for the last several decades.
Hypocritical when it's you holding democracy ransom telling them who to vote for. I am expressing democracy by voting for Jill Stein.
You’re knowingly throwing away a vote. There’s not much left that is more anti-democracy. But for now- you can enjoy that right.
Projection, you're literally voting for someone you don't agree with, so you have a fundamental misunderstanding of democracy.
Who said i disagree with him? I dislike a very few things he’s doing, and disagree with how they’re handled. That’s it.
I’m an adult though. So I understand nuance. And I also know that compromise is how things get accomplished.
Go ahead and look through a history book and see how many times protest votes and not booting succeeded in actionable results.
I’ll wait here.
You're voting third party in a First Past the Post election structure, so you have a fundamental misunderstanding of the specific incarnation of democracy you exist within.
It’s not belittling genocide opposition.
It's absolutely nothing but.
over a single issue that they don’t understand
Yes, opposition to genocide is just because those who oppose it are unenlightened, not because it's fucking genocide.
and weren’t even aware was happening for the last several decades.
Biden hasn't been selling weapons he knows will be used for genocide for the past several decades. Now do the thing where you sling gaslighting and abuse.
For someone who had nothing to say about Palestine before October 7th, you sure love talking down at others from that high horse.
Your comment is history is almost entirety anti Biden rhetoric, and snarky rebuttals. People have tried to reason with you. You seem to have no desire to debate in good faith at all, so you should understand that It raises questions as to your motive here.
You have not, and will not find a single person here who supports genocide. Not one. Nor will you find anyone that thinks Biden handling of Palestine to be acceptable in any way. So STOP accusing people of this nonsense.
It makes you look foolish.
What people have CONSTANTLY tried to explain to you- is that this situation is very complicated. It’s nuanced. It’s not so simple to demand that something you don’t like be stopped immediately.
Either make an attempt to debate in good faith or don’t debate.
For someone who had nothing to say about Palestine before October 7th, you sure love talking down at others from that high horse.
Do you suppose that there might have been something that happened between then and now that might have made the genocide undeniable to all but a few bad faith actors?
Your comment is history is almost entirety anti Biden rhetoric
I have been massively dissatisfied with his performance, with one notable exception: he exceeded my expectations on student loan forgiveness.
You seem to have no desire to debate in good faith at all, so you should understand that It raises questions as to your motive here.
The accusations began the very first time I said that Biden should stop supporting genocide.
You have not, and will not find a single person here who supports genocide.
At the very least, genocide denial in the face of obvious genocide is support for genocide. Yes, I have encountered that right here on lemmy.
Nor will you find anyone that thinks Biden handling of Palestine to be acceptable in any way.
Seen that too. And not just from the deniers. Mostly it takes the form of "every president since the formation of Israel has been complicit, why start having a problem now?" Sometimes it's "we can't stop selling Netanyahu weapons because Republicans will call us antisemitic." Both are defenses of Biden's actions themselves, and not merely an admonition to vote for Biden on the grounds that Trump is undeniably worse.
Of course Trump is worse, and that's why I'm voting for Biden. But as long as Biden supports genocide, I'm going to say he should stop doing that.
It’s not so simple to demand that something you don’t like be stopped immediately.
I'm not going to ask for patient incrementalism over the course of decades here.
I'm not really clear why. Biden has ran a competent administration and it's been like night and day compared to the chaotic horror of the trump admin. Of course, Biden should absolutely be pressured to change policy on Israel. AIPAC is a very powerful force in US politics, however. This is likely to be a close election and talking endless shit about Biden and encouraging people from voting or encouraging them to vote 3rd party absolutely is a gift to Trump. Netanyahu would love for Trump to be elected, as would Putin. It would be a greenlight for them to be even worse in their respective wars. Denigrating Biden and eroding his support will not solve anything for Palestine, and will totally screw Ukraine and Americans.
Quite obviously, I oppose genocide, and the Palestinians have deserved much better for years. Throwing this election over that issue makes absolutely no sense, though.
You could just ask me, I guess. Am I belittling genocide opposition? No. What I am opposed to is blaming the entire thing on Biden, as if 95% of the rest of the political establishment isn't involved and wouldn't have done the same things or worse. "Genocide Joe" is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. People seem totally ready to throw this election to trump, who has made it clear he would be even worse about Palestine, over this single issue, which would fuck over the US in an almost incalculable way. And then, it sure is odd how people who consider themselves leftists or communists spend huge amounts of time and energy bashing Biden and Democrats and NEVER express any concerns about Republicans or Trump. It makes absolutely no sense given that Democratic administrations are much better on issues they claim to care about - clean energy, unions, environmental regulations, women's rights, appointing reasonable people to courts, and so on.
Biden hasn’t been selling weapons he knows will be used for genocide for the past several decades.
The US just started supporting Israel with weapons and finances? Huh, I could have sworn that's been going on for at least 50 years.
They want to be able to smugly say “we told you to listen to us!” While they deny that they’re trying to hold democrat ransom.
No. What I am opposed to is blaming the entire thing on Biden
I blame most of it on Netanyahu. Biden shoudl stop enabling him.
, as if 95% of the rest of the political establishment isn’t involved and wouldn’t have done the same things or worse.
"Everyone else would do it" is not a justification for Biden's support for genocide.
“Genocide Joe” is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard.
And you haven't heard it from me. I don't call him that.
People seem totally ready to throw this election to trump,
And any criticism of Biden is support for Trump. Griping about Biden enabling genocide on a small fledgling platform inhabited almost entirely by centrists who just want his critics to shut up isn't going to throw anything.
who has made it clear he would be even worse about Palestine, over this single issue, which would fuck over the US in an almost incalculable way.
Which is why I'm voting for Biden.
And then, it sure is odd how people who consider themselves leftists or communists spend huge amounts of time and energy bashing Biden and Democrats and NEVER express any concerns about Republicans or Trump.
What is there about every last centrist's second choice that needs expressing. They're fascists. It's why we're all stuck voting for Biden. Democrats seeing this and using it as license to be second worst is disgusting behavior.
This conspiracy nonsense from centrists that russians are hiding behind all dissent is just like Republicans screaming "SOROS!" at all sensory input. It's not based in any actual logic. You should be fucking livid that Biden is enabling genocide, and I'm seeing precious little evidence that any of you are.
The US just started supporting Israel with weapons and finances? Huh, I could have sworn that’s been going on for at least 50 years.
Sounds like a justification for never, ever stopping. BuT nO OnE hErE sUpPoRtS gEnOcIdE.
So, you've intentionally or not missed the point that Biden does not make all the decisions for the US. He's in a difficult position especially with Congress and Republicans overwhelmingly supporting Israel.
And you haven’t heard it from me. I don’t call him that.
That's fine. I'm not only discussing you. I'm discussing "leftist bro" people who can't stop talking shit about Biden constantly and don't seem concerned at all about Republican plans for Trump and the country. If that's you, then okay.
And any criticism of Biden is support for Trump.
Excessive, unfair and pointless criticism helps Trump, yes. Do Trump and Republicans deserve any crticism? Well, no way, I'll just talk shit about Biden endlessly.
Griping about Biden enabling genocide on a small fledgling platform inhabited almost entirely by centrists who just want his critics to shut up isn’t going to throw anything.
So, it's interesting how "so leftist bro" people come to places where people are likely to vote for Biden and try to erode his support. Guess who that would help?
You should be fucking livid that Biden is enabling genocide
How old are you? Israel has been doing this forever, with full US support. It's been going on for decades before I was born. Were you livid when the French and British set up the whole thing in the 40s?
Sounds like a justification for never, ever stopping.
not in anyway whatsoever is that " justification for never, ever stopping". It's pointing out that "OMG JOR BIDEN" is just a clueless thing to be fixating on. Again, as if Biden makes all the decisions for the entire country by himself. This was going on for decades before Biden was in power.
BuT nO OnE hErE sUpPoRtS gEnOcIdE.
That's correct, nobody here support genocide. If you want to help Trump be in charge of Palestinian, Ukrainian, LGBT and central American genocides, keep it up.
In this equation, you are playing victim by painting yourself as "opposition to genocide." When called on this, you pivoted to pretend the poster was insulting victims of genocide
I wanted to tell you that kind of cheap pivoting technique doesn't work here. I'm entirely against genocide and stand with Palestine, but this grandstanding is intellectually dishonest and makes you look like an entire clown.
I won't be replying further on this.
I find it very amusing that you compared them to an entire clown and not some fractional amount of clown
In this equation, you are playing victim by painting yourself as “opposition to genocide.”
I mean, I do oppose genocide. Don't you?
Never said that. I’m describing you.
I'm a victim for pointing out that he's belittling opposition to genocide?
No, you're victimizing yourself as the opposition that's being belittled. This is why I'm calling you out on victimization.
You mean the presidential power that biden has been using to bypass congress to maximize weapon shipments to israel?
Lame response. Explain US Presidential power, and how they have the ability to tell another country what to do.
Lame response. Explain US Presidential power, and how they have the ability to tell another country what to do.
I've never said that Biden can order Netanyahu to stop. Israel is a sovereign nation headed by a genocidal madman. One we are not required to support in all his endeavors. Biden can stop selling him weapons. Biden's administration can stop running interference for him at the UN. And Biden did not need to falsely claim that there is no genocide occurring in Gaza.
The Democrats already tried to stop selling weapons to Israel, but that was shut down by the Republicans. Perhaps if you would keep yourself up-to-date you would understand the real problem is… Yet again, the Republicans.
Soon we'll get the "buying votes" after the Gaza issues. While I think the administration is doing extra-terrible on that front, this was in motion way before all that bad PR.
Compared to the $1.7 trillion student loan debt crisis he was key in creating? Actually yes. When it comes to future students who have to take on massive amounts of debt, he's also doing nothing there.
Causing a massive problem and then chipping away at maybe 10% of what some people have had to endure from it while not addressing the continued existence of this problem for people in the future is not big at all actually. This isn't problem solving.
He hasn't done everything, everywhere, all at once, remaking all of society, in one fell swoop!1! Why won't he!1!
Maybe you're satisfied with biden shitting all over your face and then wiping away a bit with one finger, but most people aren't. Nobody is mad that he's not perfect, they're mad that he did active harm and then does barely anything to fix the problems that he himself has created.
He really finds lovely configurations for the deck chairs on the Titanic.
These payments are flashy, but do nothing to remedy the current predatory student loan system or the rising costs of academia.
Or how I'd put it: One needs to apply first aid when dealing with a gun shot wound. You don't just try to dig the bullet out while still on the sidewalk. Pressure, call for help, get a bunch of people involved, then you can deal with the problem in a better way.
It's steps in the right direction that I'd hope will put on closer to having a higher education system closer to the majority of the EU.
Unfortunately we have to get passed the GQP first before we can get to that point.
Right, instead he has applied a 100% tariff on electric vehicles coming from the country making the most electric vehicles out of anyone and has applied a 50% tariff on solar panels from that very same country.
Done so to increase manufacturing in the US utilizing a number of incentives passed in 2022 and 2023. Which near the end of 2023 was projected to create almost 100k jobs in just the electric vehicle industry.
I'm well aware of the excuses given for it, but climate change is too pressing an issue to play these stupid games. Does biden think climate change is a regional issue? We have to work together globally to fight it. Insisting that the solution must be American-made is trump-esque, and in fact biden had criticized trump for his trade war with China. Since then, he's kept trump's trade policies and even expanded upon them. These tariffs will do nothing but let American companies sit comfy with fat profit margins and adoption of these technologies in the US will slow to a crawl.
Love to see it. You know that every month until now until the election there will be more. Can't wait
My favorite thing is when someone on the left uses "centrist" to label others on the left they disagree with. You see the right doing this all the time with "RINO".
Straight up no-true-Scotsman-ing it up in here
I've had people getting pissed at me in some comment sections calling me a centrist because I think we should vote for Biden to keep trump out of office. Nothing at all related to my political views other than telling people that they need to vote (which is apparently another cardinal sin to some "leftist") if they want to change happen in this country. Especially in their local governments.
Im pretty certain those are right-wing trolls here to convince people to not vote. They show up every election year.
I have that entire instance blocked and usually do the same with anyone I see from there. I’ve yet to see an intelligent discussion from any of them.
I think we need that meme for that bunch: "Everyone I Don't Like is a Communist", but Communist swapped out for Centrist, lol.
These discharges are for three categories of borrowers