More present than correct
Hillary Clinton’s college-funding plan is better politics than policy
TO BELIEVE some young voters—especially those who showed up at Bernie Sanders rallies earlier this year—America is in the midst of a student debt crisis. In 2010 student loans overtook credit cards to become the biggest source of American household debt other than mortgages. Today, they total about 7% of GDP. Of those who have borrowed from the federal government and began repayments in 2011, 10% defaulted within two years, up from 4.5% in 2003. The problem animates the left: whereas Donald Trump has talked about the subject only fleetingly, Hillary Clinton has detailed policies for helping penniless scholars. Who could oppose such a worthy aim?
This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “More present than correct”
From the October 8th 2016 edition
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Donald Trump may find it harder to dominate America’s conversation
A more fragmented media is tougher to manage
An FBI sting operation catches Jackson’s mayor taking big bribes
What the sensational undoing of the black leader means for Mississippi’s failing capital
America’s rural-urban divide nurtures wannabe state-splitters
What’s behind a new wave of secessionism
Does Donald Trump have unlimited authority to impose tariffs?
Yes, but other factors could hold him back
As Jack Smith exits, Donald Trump’s allies hint at retribution
The president-elect hopes to hand the Justice Department to loyalists
Democratic states are preparing for Donald Trump’s return
But Mr Trump will be more prepared, too