There is always, it seems, an individual and a societal cause in these big social issues. Take obesity, for example. There are an absolutely incredible number of obese people in the country, staggering, really. Yet, there isn't a single one of them who didn't consciously eat the food that has made them fat. However, given that it's such a large problem, it's difficult to believe that anyone chose to be fat, in any rational sense of the word. So there must be something at play beyond just personal choice. Obviously that topic has been beat to death in the media, but I'm not dire anyone has found the answer(s).

I think the same applies to college loans. Everyone chooses their major, knowing full well that some are less employable than others. However, when you have so many smart people making such seemingly irrational choices, there has to be greater forces at work.

Perhaps this is when regulation is important, when companies find ways to subvert rational decision making, either by coercion, false advertising, addicting consumers, etc.