Republicans all but guarantee Student Loan rates will go up, wiping out their discretionary spending and depress future economies.

If Republicans succeed in tying the student loan interest rates to the financial markets, parents and students alike will have only their conservative politicians to blame. Oddly, if history tells us anything, Republicans will get of scot free. Here's what it means in dollars:

jsonline: The failure comes with just three weeks before interest rates increase on those loans back to 2008 levels. For students who max out their student loans, the rate shift means a $1,000 increase each year.