The Debt Sentence

Art by cartoonist, Madeline Horwath; copy by Maddy Clifford

The student debt crisis impacts nearly 1 in 4 Americans and spans generations, with older borrowers now the fastest-growing group. Still, it’s especially enraging to realize that the Department of Education has historically operated like a predatory lender—and is often the very first lender young adults encounter. This cartoon drives home the ridiculously unequal, “time-bound” debtor-creditor relationship. In this case, the creditor happens to be the biggest, most powerful bank on the planet.

About the Artists:

Madeline 'Mads' Horwath is a cartoonist for The Guardian and The New Yorker living in London. They are always looking to utilize their art for progressive causes. Currently, they reside in London where they are working on their first book. Follow and support their work on IG: @madelinehorwath

Cartoon copy written by Maddy Clifford. Maddy is a literary-performance artist and organizer rooted in Oakland, CA. She has opened for OSHUN, Macklemore and written for Hammer & Hope and Teen Vogue.