The discussion both of you are having about lawsuits kind of jogged my memory and reminded me of something: I have been thinking about different options (possible solutions) to our huge problem, and I have a short list, and was wondering about thoughts on this. (In other words, did I miss anything?)

1. The 'First' Branch of Government: The Lawmakers (particularly Federal, as the state probably can't enact protective measures on Federal loans due to the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution) are the "1st step" solution in my mind, though I do **not** put all my eggs in any one basket, even this foundational level.

2. The 'Second' Branch of Government - the Executive Branch: Powers to fix a problem here are limited, but occasionally a President or Governor (or maybe an agency using discretion in execution of the law) will enact an executive order (like, I think that Pres. Obama did sign an Executive Order shortening the payback period of IBR from 25 years to 20 years), but due to Separation of Powers, such Exec Orders are usually limited in scope (and probably must be written into the law).

3. The 'Third' Branch of Government: Judicial. (There are numerous lawsuits floating around the Judicialsphere - I made up a new word! - apt, since one of those Zillion lawsuits is my own meager efforts.) --- My least favourite branch of government, as I seem to never get a fair shake in court, but worth a try (read: better than nothing) - and, in all fairness, they are not all bad.

4. The "Fourth Estate" - a nickname for the news media. [[The 'Fourth Estate' (or fourth power) is a societal or political force or institution whose influence is not consistently or officially recognized. 'Fourth Estate' most commonly refers to the news media, especially print journalism or "the press".]]

I have a few thoughts about this option, since I'm an advocate of the Free Press Doctrine (and the Open press Doctrine, a distinct, but useful, exercise of the 1st amendment)

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Source: www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment

A) Government's prohibition on supporting one religion over another -- or interfering with Free Exercise -- does not apply, but it is part of Am.1
B) Freedom of Speech is addressed in my 5th & last point below.
C) Peaceable Assembly - ibid.
D) Press -- Covered in point 4, here: The 4th Estate!!
E) Petition of Redresses -- these are covered in points 1, 2, and 3, above.

 -- Definition:

"Free press doctrine lionized the press as the prime defender of public liberty in its role as a bulwark against governmental tyranny. Open press doctrine, on the other hand, stressed the individual right of every man to air his sentiments for all to consider, regardless of his political perspective or the consequences for the people's liberty."

Source:  http://www.LawCourts.org/LPBR/reviews/martinrowt.htm

ISSN 1062-7421, Vol. 12 No. 2 (February 2002) pp. 79-83; THE FOUNDING OF AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC PRESS LIBERTY, 1640-1800 by Robert W. T. Martin. New York: New York University Press, 2001. ISBN: 0-8147-5655-7 [[Reviewed by Rick A. Swanson, Department of Political Science, University of Louisiana at Lafayette]]

5. The '5th Dimension' - a random nickname I chose to categorise the rest of the stuff:

Our group here might be an example of Peaceable Assembly and/or Free Speech.

These are the 5 options I see - does anyone see anything I may have missed? (I am only human, after all.)