Standard of living is one area I have issues with forgiving student loans. I think the system is greatly flawed and I'm willing to kind of do a "reset" funded by the government for tuition and fees, and then something about living expenses. But so many people have extravagant apartments, new clothes, and vacation trips to Europe and spring break in Cancun funded by their student loans. I'm not OK with the government forgiving that.
I lived in an apartment that cost $640 (a BIG one too. I had a room that fit a full bed, a desk with computer, a desk with a sewing machine, a dresser, and had a huge closet), with bills, a month when I was in college. I remember my Mom visited we went to a family friend's apartment for dinner. My Mom asked me why I didn't move into something "as nice as this" (it had a car wash,tanning (blech), a pool with lazy river, etc) - her rent was only $600 a month. I had to explain to my Mom that was her PORTION of the rent. The apartment was rented by the room- each of 4 occupants paid $600 a month. My roommate and I split the $640.
That girl has outrageous student loans. She talks about how she'll never be able to pay them off. But much of the spending was her own choices- always eating out, always at the mall.
I don't begrudge someone being able to study and also feed their family; but they don't need to feed them at the downtown steakhouse.