Solely in the public interest - and not at all because I'm personally burdened with a ridiculous debt now several times larger than the amount I borrowed when I was 18 - I humbly direct your attention to
this awesome Consumerist infographic on the evolution of the student loan from social-service program to burdensome rip-off.
I understand now that my mistake was running that debt up in pursuit of something frivolous like an education. If I'd done it by buying big-screen TVs and jet skis and Xboxes on a credit card, I could discharge the debt in bankruptcy and skip away scot-free. Plus I'd have a bunch of awesome stuff.
More...