It didn't used to be this way. Debt used to be reserved for people who bought homes and maybe cars but credit card debt was something that was much more rare. In the old days, parents taught their kids to save before they bought things. You had to earn the money first before you bought that new television or game machine.

Now though, debt is so common that almost everyone has credit card debt or some other kind. It is understandable to have to borrow to buy a house and that will never change as they are so expensive. But going into debt to buy a couch for your living room or a bed to sleep on is something that is new within the last 20 or so years.

We all get credit card applications in the mail all the time. I get one from each of the major airlines, major banks, major department stores and a few others as well. I rip them up and throw them away every time but they just keep on coming.

With so much temptation and availability, it is no wonder that so many people have so many credit cards and access to so much credit. When someone is giving you something, it is hard for people to not take it, especially if they don't clearly understand the dangers.

There are a lot of uneducated people out there and a lot of people that are in serious financial difficulty. When they get a credit card application in the mail, it is so easy for them to fill it out and get more credit. Do they really understand the consequences of applying for more credit? Do they fully understand that they will just get into further financial difficulty because of it?

The questions is then, who's fault is it that so many people are in so much trouble due to credit card debt. Is it the credit card companies fault for pushing these cards on the masses or is it the people's fault for not understanding debt and the dangers of acquiring too much of it.

President Obama has come into office and the stimulus bill has been passed which has made money available to all sorts of companies, organizations, and state governments. Individual people are understandably curious to know whether there is anything in the stimulus bill for them. Perhaps some sort of debt relief grants that they can get or some program they can enter that will forgive some of their debt.

People have had so many financial problems and then the wide loss of jobs across the country hasn't helped one bit. Houses are being lost, cars are being repossessed, and folks are having a very difficult time just living their lives. If they hadn't gone so heavily in debt and relied on credit cards so much, they might not be having the problems they are now.

The search will go on for credit card debt relief and any other type of relief the government can give. is this really the government's responsibility though? Don't we all have to act responsibly and take the blame for our own mistakes?