The credit card thing is bonkers. A few years ago, when I first travelled to the US, I signed up for a credit card - in UK/EU, we mostly use debit cards. I didn't think they'd give me one since I had no real income except from student loans. Of course they did. It is an ambition of mine to get rid of my credit card as soon as I can. Don't want it in my life anymore. Don't want the sort of society that credit card mania brings about - the last two years being the culimanation thereof. - Tom Morris

I know... it's completely crazy, and tragic for a lot of people. This brought it into focus for me. It doesn't look as though our U.S. consumer financial legislation is going to be all that it could be, but maybe I'll try my hand at doing something positive instead of kvetching about the GOP. See how that goes... - Amyloo

A while back there was a Treasury Select Committee hearing with the chief executive of Barclays. They asked him whether he would use a credit card and he said that they were "too expensive". Straight from the horses mouth, as they say. - Tom Morris