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The student debt crisis has become one of the hot platform topics for candidates on the 2020 election circuit, but for the people it affects it is more than a campaign strategy. Tuition and fees at public and private schools rose at roughly three times the rate of inflation between 2007 and 2018, according to a College Board survey. Borrowers currently owe more than $1.5 trillion in student loans, an average of $34,000 per person.

The list below is a collection of tweets from people explaining how the U.S debt crisis evolved to this point or sharing their stories on how student debt has impacted their lives since graduating - and they may shock you or be sadly relatable.

#2

Student-Debt-Crisis-Posts

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jamie1707 avatar
jamie1707
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel so bad for these young men and women. It's not f*****g fair! Starting your life with that much debt must be soul crushing. I feel so bad because when I finished grad school, I had $213 in my checking account and the only debt I had was to the electric company for $13. I wish there was something I could do for these kids.

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Timothy Ott
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can do something- get out and vote! Write to your representatives, so they can put a stop to this madness!

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tuzdayschild
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I totally understand. We started with nothing, but you are starting in a huge hole. Universities have priced themselves out. They are too expensive. We should offer more apprenticeship programs so you either pay nothing or get paid while learning your job.

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Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Starting in debt isn’t the only problem. We still have lower wages. Solve that and owing money won’t be such a big deal.

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Zelda Blue
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are plenty of careers that don't involve all the college debt people are getting themselves into. Many trades will pay for your schooling and training. They chose poorly grasshopper.

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Barbara Reid
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then only the rich are educated rather than the capable. Now that's a plan.

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Trash Panda
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

While I hate the fact that millennials start out behind the 8-ball, it's not necessarily the fault of boomers. I'm a GenXer so I'm just an observer here but I think it a bit ridiculous that every issue seems to come down to Boomers v. Millennials.

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RcStan
Community Member
4 years ago

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The reason we have Millennials as a Thing, is that they are the 1st generation that are not dominated by the Boomers. We left them nanotechnology, bioengineering, artifical intelligence, quantum computers, Thorium nearly free electricity, the technological singularity & enough inflation to make any debt irrelevant. They need to quit whining about it & pick up the ball. .

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LaDonna Hulcy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, I only started out with 25k in debt in 1986, it sucked and I ate a lot of caned beans. But then I'm a Gen X so not a boomer!

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Billy Bob
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are you kidding me? How is forgiving student debt fair to those parents and students who worked hard, saved, scrimped, and did without in order to get thru college with minimal debt.? Did someone force you to take those loans? Grow up and be responsible for your commitments.

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Charli Schisler
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is what's wrong with us. Somehow, we arrived at the place where we say, "I got mine and screw the rest of you!"

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Heather Smith
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are not the only one that walked out with a large debt. I left college in '98 at 35 with a debt of around $40,000. Due to tons of deferments, that no explains the repercussions of, I currently owe enough to go to a top tier law school. I accept full responsibility for not finding out what was going on. Now every time they increase the interest, which is constantly, it lowers my credit score. I had a score of over 800 now it's in the 700s. Don't get me wrong, I feel for the kids right now but the are not the only ones that are getting screwed.

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Kathy Baylis
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s starting with $40K less than nothing. If anyone who went to college when it was affordable ever gives you that kind of snark, ask them how they think they would’ve done if their starting at zero was actually starting at a negative $40K—-or more—-hole they would’ve had to dig themselves out of BEFORE they could even get to zero!

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Catlady6000
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My high intelligent daughter (147 IQ) refused to go to college. I was disappointed. She s been cleaning houses since high school. Her also highly intelligent husband auto details. Close to six figures. Their only debt is a regular car payment, and a credit card they charge and pay off a fill up of gas each month for credit rating purposes. Not counting housing, insurance, etc.They are not concerned about whether there will be social security. I wish I had been as wise.

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Yettichild
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I joined the military to pay for my college. It nearly did, I only ended up with just under 10K in loans.

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back atya
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey if people can buy mercedes, SUVs or whatever vehicle between 30K to 80K then they can pay off their loans. Especially if they became doctors, CPAs etc.

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Pam Sturgeon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We need to remember, when baby boomers graduated from college life was simpler. You didn't see people graduating and going immediately to a $100,000 a year job. I graduated in 1974. There were often 2000 job applications for 1 position in my field. The going salary in most states was 18,000 a year. Of course I didn't go to a ritzy private college that cost an arm and a leg. I qualified for a grant, a work study program, a governmental loan, and may parents could barely pay for a quarter of my tuition each semester even though both parents worked. I had a huge amount to pay in that time period. It took me almost 10 years to pay off my student loan. I worked my behind off to pay for my loan, but I did not complaiin and whine about how much money I had to pay off. Too many young people today want designer clothes, sit down restaurants, party every weekend , but complain because they owe money for their education. Get a grip and join the rest of the working world.

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louie arbs
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

40k isnt that much. its an alright car that productive people would pay off in a few years. its nobody's fault but your own if you go into debt for a worthless degree

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Michael Melio
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We taxpayers are funding Wall Street monopolies when our governments -- city, county, state, and natl -- deposit our taxes in Wall Street banks. Moreover, these banks presently own the Powers of Credit Creation -- the phenomenal power to create money from nothing -- when they issue loans. This is precisely why nothing ever gets done for the public good -- our money goes to the Big Banks (JPMC, BOA, CITI, WF, and 8 others) to be leveraged by them 10 fold in a 'fractional reserve' finance scheme, funding all the monopolies in every sector of the economy. We need public banking if we are ever to end this system of perpetual debt that is destroying people and the planet.

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Elliott Smith
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The whole education system is ran by greedy Jewish pedophiles. They teach fake science hide natural cures and create bioweapons like covid and blame it in China to start a world war like they are doing in Ukraine the Jewish capital of the Khazarian mafia that Obama transitioned power over in 2015.

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Cat Wagner
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm 58 and I'm a boomer. I most definitely had a student loan and no way to pay it while supporting myself in the 1980s. It's crazy to expect anyone to get an entry-level job and pay a student loan, rent, food, insurance and where I live, you also need a car because there was next to no public transportation. I paid mine off eventually, and my daughter paid hers off, but the whole system is not built for production or success. I'm in Canada, so the loans are smaller, but it's still a ridiculous notion that you need a degree now to wait tables for min. wage and are somehow supposed to live your life and become successful under these circumstances. Oh, and then you're bombarded by "financial consultants" telling you to invest 10% of every pay. That was pretty funny, considering I was checking under the sofa cushions for gas money. If you don't start out with family money, you're stuck in that rut.

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jimmy pop
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even if you start with nothing these days, it's still absolutely incomparable. Costs of living and wages have drifted massively apart. Additionally, while workers' efficiency has gone up, you still have to work the same hours for the same payment, it's just vastly more stressful with no added benefits to the worker. And then there's the lack of future perspective from ruining the planet for the short-term benefits of very few ...

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Cater Cater
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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V.R. Craft
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, if a Boomer had to take out a loan for college, they got a better interest rate. And they didn't need to take out as large of a loan because college was much cheaper relative to both inflation and the buying power of minimum wage. And the best part...Boomers who experienced some unforeseen situation (unexpected massive medical bills, for example, or job loss) and had to go bankrupt could discharge their student loans at the same time. That's no longer the case thanks the W's administration in the early oughts.

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Teresa Frith
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont feel sorry for any of them. No one forced the student loan down their throats.

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Larry Battros
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OK, "starting with nothing" and a premium college education is better than most folks. It was your choice to borrow the money, you thought you would be an instant millionaire. Quit whining and pay your bills.

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Larry Battros
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's "starting with nothing" AND a college education paid for by somebody. Far better than most of the world. YOU borrowed the money thinking you were gonna be a millionaire. Quit whining, pay your bills.

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Cindy Snow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm glad I didn't go to college. Hell cosmetology school was $8000!

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Justgail Jones
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s a given now. Every single one of us gets caught in the interest scam. Companies make more money with interest, it’s a sure way to cover those that default also.

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Lynda Nesbitt
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Everyone makes the choice-or not-to attend expensive schools. If you choose in the affirmative, is there a reason why the world should then be responsible for your debt?

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C D
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or maybe we could be like numerous other first world countries and encourage education and intellectual pursuits and not drown our youth in debt because they want to better themselves?

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Tina catz
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont have much sympathy for half of them tbh. These days there are hundreds of programs that offer low cost college. For example most community colleges offer 2&2 programs now. If your local CC doesnt then perhaps move to a county or state that does. you would for a full 4yr college anyways. There are also lots of scholarship programs out there for those who just refuse to think of cost first. I have no debt, Im not special in any way shape or form, and I got my degree. Personalky I got a full time job first and then received relief through my companys tuition reimbursement, but point is there are so many other options. That being said there are fields that I understand the debt is unavoidable. Many engineering, law, and medical degrees cost way too much and something should be done.

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C D
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok, so, let me get this straight. Our school systems throughout this country are set up to convince kids to go into college and they are encouraged to go into 'what they're passionate about'. But your argument in response to this is, "If at 18 they do not have the insight and intuition to know that a technical program is POSSIBLY going to end up serving them better than a college degree, then oh well, they're screwed, and I have no sympathy for them"

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Willem Groenewald
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't forget about the national debt on top of that student loan, which now exceeds $180k per tax payer.

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JWatts
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s a dumb comment. The bailout to Wall Street was a loan. That they paid back. Just like a student loan.

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Linda Albea
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, one thing this baby boomer did not do was to join every club, wear the latest fashions and use college for a social time. I wore hand-me-downs, walked a lot and did not own an automobile until I obtained my first Bachelor Degree. This baby boomer cleaned toilets, mopped floors, washed dishes, washed clothes and EVERYTHING ELSE I could do to pay my way so I did not have to borrow more than I could pay back. I took as many as sometimes 25 to 27 semester hours while working....NOT PARTYING! I also did not continue if I knew I did not have the reasonable amount of money to pay for it.

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Joshua Davenport
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And we could do all that and still have the same amount of debt we have now. Many of us have done similarly if not exactly the same. Hard work used to pay off.

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SAF saf
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This should be criminal, I don't understand why the politicians can't meet us half way on this. Why can't student loans be zero to super low interest rates. You pay back the $250k and call it settled (which is still alot' of money btw).

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Maci Mae
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm fourteen, and I really want to be a special education teacher when I'm an adult, which requires college. I want to have a job that I love, but I can't imagine being that much in debt. Any time I bring it up to an adult, I'm told that I'll "figure it out" or that "I shouldn't be worrying about that yet". But considering the situation my country is in, I probably should have started saving for college two years ago :(

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Leo Domitrix
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm Gen X. We hae ALL inherited the debts racked up by Boomers and the gutless politicians catering to them. They didn't pay it forward. They loaned it forward, with compound interest....

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Peg Walton
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a retired professor, I strongly agree with this statement. It is terribly broken, from pre-K up to PhD. The American education system is completely broken.

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Kaisu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's really f****d up, a 17-yo isn't mature enough to take such a huge loan and to understand the ramifications a loan like that has on your life. In my county you could never get that much student loan

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Peg Walton
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Must be nice to be one of the lucky ones. I went to college after raising my children and still ended up with $40,000+ in loans. Now my salary isn't enough to live and pay loans. Their "programs" do not help. Wish I had never gone to college. My Masters is worthless.

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Panda Kicki
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a swede with mostly free schools and low cost state loans to cover other expenses it is so horrifying to read all these tragedies :'(

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Pamela24
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You should stop spoiling yourself and demanding luxuries. If you don't have the money to eat, just don't. It's as simple as that. *sarcasm - just to make sure*

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Jeff Christensen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Australia university was free until 1988, but now it is paid for by Government loans - but repaymemts don't start until your income is over a certain threshold. If you never reach that threshold, you never repay the debt.

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Pamela24
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just can't understand why AT LEAST the loans couldn't be without interest. I believe that is how the UK has it (correct me if I'm wrong, please).

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Ahmad Pujianto
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just wow.. I only pay 25 USD each month during 4 year of college.. Then (because I work while studying) another 50 USD each year for 2 year of extention.. Totally I spend around 20 Million IDR (around 1.500 USD) till graduate.. #asian

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Candice Lewis
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

With interest it could become that much and the sucky thing is our children will probably be responsible for some of it

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30 Alarming Posts About How The Student Debt System Affects People's Lives And It's Terrible

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Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What in the entire f**k. The pettiness. Pettiness of this level can only come from the mega rich.

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Monica Michelle
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4 years ago

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There are 2 types of people who are wronged those that say never again to noone else and those who stop progress because it does not help them personally

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Belinda Matson
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMFG I'm surprised boomers aren't being slaughtered en masse in the USA. Pro Tip: Start with the politicians...

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Ivo H
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's terryfing that someone has reason to write "i did a terrible thing" because he studied for a job he wanted to do. Not everyone likes to be doctor/lawyer/whatever just to pay off his or hers loans.

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Missy Barton
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I officially paid off my student loans four years ago. Want to know how? My husband died.

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#28

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Cassie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If your payments are income based, your (compounded) interest will continue to accrue, which means your loan amount will be more when it's forgiven than when it was initiated. The government could have saved money by just paying for the tuition in the first place.

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guy greej
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From malawi a third world country. Paid of my university degree debt in 1 month after getting a job.

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Martha Meyer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's supposed to be a joke, right? She didn't pay it off, her mother basically did!

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