For the publisher:
Re “Cancel student debt to narrow the racial wealth gap»(Op-Ed, February 3):
Professors Naomi Zewde and Darrick Hamilton propose that President Biden “cancel all federal student debt by executive action.” Although the president is not likely to do it, he did. offer a $ 10,000 loan forgiveness program on the basis of the action of the Congress. I hope none of this will happen.
The blanket cancellation of loans is not very fair. On the one hand, it offers nothing to those who have not attended university. It offers less than nothing to those who have sacrificed mightily to pay off large student loans. Worse, it sends cash to all borrowers, regardless of borrowers’ needs.
But my dissent is more fundamental. Taxpayers can provide a limited amount of money. Especially with racial justice in mind, expanding Covid aid, improving K-12 public education, subsidizing public transportation, and increasing the supply of affordable housing all demand much more support.
Joseph bernstein
Haverford, Pennsylvania.
For the publisher:
Professors Naomi Zewde and Darrick Hamilton argue that canceling student debt would not only reduce the burden faced by millions of young Americans, but, at the same time, narrow the racial wealth gap. Cancellation of student debt is a policy that benefits all groups, but disproportionately those, like African Americans, who suffer from a large wealth gap.
Tuition-free public higher education would be another step towards reducing both the debt build-up and the wealth gap – not to mention the deeply divided division of degrees. Indeed, government programs that provide affordable health care, housing and child care – programs offered by other wealthy capitalist democracies – would make the possession of wealth itself less important.
Gertrude Schaffner Goldberg
New Canaan, Connecticut.
The writer is president of the National Jobs for All Network.
For the publisher:
Student debt forgiveness is a free gift that would only reap the resentment of anyone, regardless of race, who does not benefit from such a policy. The creation of this precedent could foster the development of a sense of entitlement for future generations. Instead, why not institute a program to speed up loan repayments by serving the country for a year of public service or enlisting in the National Guard?
All races are grappling with immeasurable university debt, and a strong repayment card with intact dignity is desperately needed.
Laurence P. Mitchell
new York
For the publisher:
While I sympathize with the narrowing of the wealth gap, I can’t help but feel punished. I am an African American who took on debt to pay off my college loans. My children had to go to public schools to reduce the cost of their education.
How do you bridge my racial wealth gap? Will you send me a check for $ 10,000 for each of the children I put through college? Instead of canceling student debt, give reparations to descendants of slaves or free the community college.
Michèle Brown
Columbia, Maryland.
