http://www.paidtwice.com/2007/08/01/i-never-knew-debt-did-not-have-to-be-just-a-part-of-life/#comment-20213 Debt As The American Way | I've Paid For This Twice Already... Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:27:10 +0000 http://www.paidtwice.com/2007/08/01/i-never-knew-debt-did-not-have-to-be-just-a-part-of-life/#comment-20213 [...] I know that not everyone is in that position. I’d guess that a significant portion of my readership does not accept debt as a way of life, even if they are still in debt themselves. There’s an awareness of alternatives and the knowledge of the stress and heartache debt can cause. But American society as a whole? That I’m not so convinced of. There are lots of ways that debt seems completely accepted, and many transactions in which it seems expected. I remember when I was in my PhD program and the professor that was my advisor bought a new car with cash. First of all, all the grad students and techs we all in awe that someone could actually do that. And second of all, he told us how the dealership was confused, surprised, and then incredulous, it just wasn’t done. Not that he’s the only person to buy a new car with cash in the history of the world of course, but for where I lived it was outside the realm of normal experience. [...] […] I know that not everyone is in that position. I’d guess that a significant portion of my readership does not accept debt as a way of life, even if they are still in debt themselves. There’s an awareness of alternatives and the knowledge of the stress and heartache debt can cause. But American society as a whole? That I’m not so convinced of. There are lots of ways that debt seems completely accepted, and many transactions in which it seems expected. I remember when I was in my PhD program and the professor that was my advisor bought a new car with cash. First of all, all the grad students and techs we all in awe that someone could actually do that. And second of all, he told us how the dealership was confused, surprised, and then incredulous, it just wasn’t done. Not that he’s the only person to buy a new car with cash in the history of the world of course, but for where I lived it was outside the realm of normal experience. […]

]]>