That chart compares median income with total student debt. Also the scale for median income is not zero-based. The point is still valid, but this widespread use of misleading charts is awful.
Agreed. In an actual journal graphic competition, that one would not even be admitted to the contest. A time series with misleading scales? Its dis-educating people, not informing them. It correlates nothing; it scares folks with the exaggeration (student loans went from about par with annual income, to about 40% over; yet it looks like its 10X higher).