I know you are kidding since colleges don't give student loans - they benefit from them.

The issue isn't whether banks should be allowed to forgive student loans. It's whether they should be required - I believe that's what Occupy Wall Street wants.

As far as the government forgiving the loans in its portfolio, why limit it to certain years? They should forgive future loans as well, so it's not limited to kids who had the fortune to be born in certain years. That way the banks can be forced out of the student lending business, and it can all be turned over to the government, guaranteeing even-handed treatment to all borrowers forever.

Of course, I expect some kind of tax credit for the loan I took out to put myself through school. My father died when I was 14, and left a widow with 7 children. I put myself through college and law school (loans only in the 3 years of law school), never taking money from my mother or siblings since they needed it more. I think I qualify for the government's sympathy. In fact, the government owes me.