he said that for real.

Then he barfed it up.

Through it, I got out of $1500 of credit debt, and the remaining $3000 on my car. In exchange I gave up said car, was able to continue paying child support and alimony, continue to pay off my student loan, and move into a $500 a month studio apartment close enough to work I could walk or ride the bus. I'm sure Wells Fargo and Target are doing just fine despite my having "stiffed" them. Uncle Sam hasn't missed a dime from me and no landlords (god bless their intermediary souls) or small businesses were part of the deal. But they easily could have been if I were a more active consumer.
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No doubt people abuse bankruptcy but don't be too quick with your disdain. There are real, sensible reasons it is a legal practice. There is good reason it's called "forgiveness". You might be someone who's never needed any of that. I don't know. I'd have to know you personally to know that, just like I'd have to know more about each individual or business that filed for bankruptcy to know whether or not it appears justified to me. But that's the role of the judge. They are better at that sort of thing than me.

I am glad you are doing better but bankruptcy for 4500 seems like a really extreme decision.

I thought bankruptcy sheltered you and called off the wolves so you could regroup. BUT the IRS can be put at bay from bankruptcy filing? This is news to me, I believed they could come after you regardless of the bankruptcy blanket.

some you liquidate, and some you regroup.

Let's face it $500,000 is more money than many people will ever be able to pay back in a life time. At age 52 I have not even made $500,000 in wages in my whole life, much less be able to pay a debt that large. I'd have to work almost 15 years at my current job just to make that much money.

But also, why wouldn't a business owner pull the plug before the debt got that large?

I am thinking he must have had employees and thus on my paycheck of yesterday which says Fica - $81.64, med - $19.09, fed - $111.63, state - $41.40. And then the employer share of fica, another $100.73 would be owed to the IRS. But even that would require 1,597 paychecks making my salary to owe that much. That's 228 employees if he is paying taxes quarterly, but a company that big should be paying monthly, shouldn't it?

Interesting to me that at some point the employee will file taxes, and collect a refund, or get credit for, money which has not actually been paid.

That $500,000 may include a whole bunch of penalties too for late payments.

received $44 million for pension replacement which had government backup after Romney took it over. Cheney's Halliburton received a no bid contract in Iraq which was written where only Halliburton could get the contract.

As most people here on DU know many families before the ACA had what is called medical bankruptcy.
Even those who take bankruptcy for non-medical reasons are not all scumbags. Filing is an emotional decision for most people. It's no cake-walk either.

She's Tea Party. She opposes ACA, opposes safety nets but bankruptcy is a safety net. She says the government is too intrusive but the government forgave a half million dollar debt from her.
I mean, really.

I guess they never grasped that seeking joy in the suffering of people that have never done you any harm personally is not only A but probably THE litmus test to see if someone is a terrible person.

Their blatant hypocrisy is just icing. It isn't what makes them awful, but it does change the flavor.

Who collect military retirement and/or VA disability, but will fight against anyone else getting the same.

Who collect social security benefits when their spouse gets disabled, but will vote to gut the SSA system.

Who are vocally "pro-life" until their precious daughter needs an abortion.

The list goes on, but as someone above stated, "I've got mine, screw you," is their mantra.

They go on and on about someone that doesn't deserve a handout.

As if they should be the final arbiter of fairness.

They are especially ill equipped to judge fairness because they have carnival mirror concept of fair play.

chickenhawk, faux patriot, sacks of miserable crap.