I second the vote for the article. Would love to read it.

I think most people got mortgages because it was a sure thing investment that appreciates over time. That didn't hold true.

I'm arguing that a college education doesn't exactly equate to a higher salary these days.

Lifetime earnings should be a better predictor than median salary at a given point in one's career given the point made upthread about unemployment being lower for college graduates.

Even if diploma-wielding programmers can command high salaries in boom times, they have a tougher time getting jobs when there are unemployed programmers with degrees applying for the same jobs during a recession.