Aspirins and Headaches
But the truth is that it's all very simple - really.
Debt is not a bad thing in itself - lots of people have debts - mainly to do with buying a house or a car maybe.
The point is that you have to have enough money coming in - to manage your debt over time - even if it's a really long time, as in the case of a mortgage.
So a debt can be an investment for the future - as well as a cost in the here and now - especially if you spend your money wisely.
Education is another good example - at least in parts of the UK where students contribute to the cost of their education - because it concentrates people's minds on what to spend their money on.
On a completely practical subject or on one that will broaden the mind - you pay your money and take your choice.
But the key thing about debt is being able to pay things off - instead of living permanently beyond your means.
Instead of borrowing more and more every year - which is where so many countries have gone wrong - 'maxing' out the credit and then just repeating their mistakes - passing on their debts to the next generation.
All the while egged on by politicians - making false claims about 'prudence' and their country's ability to just keep on spending - as if the money supply is endless.
So now the train has hit the buffers and there's no way of taking two steps forward - without first taking one steps back - and it's not even a serious political argument any longer.
Labour likes to say the cuts in public spending and increases is charges are 'ideological' - but they're not of course - that's baloney.
Because socialist governments in other European countries such as Greece and Spain - are having to do exactly the same thing.
In which case pretending that Labour's alternative would be pain free is simply dishonest - the same as saying that they can make a whole bunch of tasty omelettes - but without breaking any eggs.
And the problem for Labour is that they were the ones in charge of the economy for 13 years - right up to the point that the bubble burst.
So if they're to gain credibility as an alternative goverment - Labour has to stand up and be counted on some difficult issues.
Whereas at the moment the party leadership is just playing to the gallery - trying to curry favour with the anti-cuts protesters in recent days.
Or pandering to vested interests amongst the trade unions.
Instead of telling it straight - by calling for an end to 'Spanish practices' like final salary pension schemes - which benefit only the higher paid - headteachers, for example, who have just voted to go on strike.
But why should a low-paid school cleaner subsidise the pension arrangments - of a much better off headteacher?
I say that's bonkers - and unfair.
