That means they have, in effect, become straight debt.

ECONOMIST: Life after debt?

For weeks, there has been a clear gap between the amount of debt relief for Greece that the private sector would "voluntarily" sign up to, and the amount needed for the IMF or anyone else to be able to say, with a straight face, that Greek sovereign debt was on a sustainable path.

BBC: European Central Bank bows to reality over Greek bonds

More so than any other type of debt, medical debt seems to send consumers straight to the collection agency.

FORBES: Don't Let Yourself Get Hurt By Medical Debt

Japan's exports to the EU have dipped for 17 straight months as the region's sovereign debt crisis continues to hurt consumer demand.

BBC: Japan posts trade deficit for eighth straight month

Shipments to the EU have now fallen for 11 straight months, as the region's debt crisis has hurt growth in the bloc's major economies.

BBC: Japan exports and imports fall raising growth concerns

Fixed income fund managers piled into local currency debt of the big emerging markets for the third straight week, according to fund trackers at EPFR Global in Cambridge, Mass.

FORBES: For International Investors, Non-Dollar Bonds More Popular...Again

Our national and international debt debacle sounds complex, but the road there was quite straight and narrow.

FORBES: What Entrepreneurs Can Teach World Leaders About Debt

To set things straight, I borrowed money from my older brother to erase my credit-card debt (I repaid him over time, without interest) and began using my cards only when I knew I could pay them in full each month.

FORBES: 11 Essential Money Tips For New College Grads