[redgolum]

Except under the current law, you can only default if you die. Student loan debt can not be discharged in bankruptcy.

Think about that. We have millions of kids with over $100K in debt and no jobs with no way of ever getting rid of that debt.

[Alberta's Child]

I think it's pretty safe to say that the law will eventually be changed to allow all of that student debt to be discharged. A big part of the problem is that a recent graduate with an enormous pile of college debt has no real incentive to get a job -- or at least to get a job "on the books."

The U.S. government knows full well that it can't squeeze money out of someone who has none.