In jailAs if life wasn't already tense enough for Americans who can't pay their debts, collection agencies are now taking advantage of archaic state laws to have some debtors arrested and sent to jail.



Of course, the reason debtors have failed to make court-ordered payments is often the same reason they didn't pay their debts in the first place: They don't have any money.


Joy's excuse?

She doesn't have any money.

Jailing debtors for not paying their debts is apparently especially popular in Illinois.

(This practice, needless to say, is preposterous.  If people can't pay their debts and have no prospect of being able to pay their debts, they should declare bankruptcy. And the debts should be written off.  Companies don't go to jail when they default. Neither should people.)

(via Marion Maneker).