There was a fairly aggressive response to this article from a Slate writer here
That's actually very insightful. Given the option to deal with student loans like regular debt, default or bankruptcy discharge would be my most attractive options. I'm very poor and getting a different job isn't realistic with my skills and experience. But this guy got his PhD from Columbia, writes for the New Yorker and can't pay this one bill out of twisted moralism? Fuck you. Ever been to the pawn shop so you can buy food?
There was also an article somewhere with a personal finance or debt or something expert where they interviewed her and the first question was, so what would you advise people with student loans do? What is the best way to declare bankruptcy? And the expert was all, human up and fucking pay them. And then it was awkward because the interviewer had to throw all their questions out and roll with it.