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I have younger friends who are in this pinch where they feel they've been counted out before they've had a chance to prove themselves. They've inherited a lot of debt - not just student debt but environmental debt, political debt. They really feel squeezed.

I had been working for eight years and all I had to show for it was this horrible debt. At one point we had the bailiff at the door.

I've been in Vegas. That's where you get into the money thing. Boy, you get greedy in Vegas, you know. That's the only place that you can bet $25, get it up to $500 and refuse to quit.

You live in the city and all the time there are signs telling you what to do and billboards trying to sell you something.

People get into debt head over heels because banks make it so easy to do so. Then the banks come along and act like these people who can't or won't pay their bills are the dregs of society.

The real danger with debt is what happens if lots of people decide, or are forced, to pay it off at the same time.

Debt can be the most addictive thing in the universe, and it can kill you. You get used to living high off the hog. It was intoxicating.

Everyone in our society has had to make a contribution towards dealing with the debts.

Families out there know that if they get in trouble and they've spent up a bunch of money and they've borrowed and they are up to hock to their necks, the thing they've got to do is start paying off what they owe and cut back their spending.