Memes

Unfortunately bankruptcy has been disempowered strongly. There are quite a few types of non-dischargeable debt like court rulings and student loans in the US. Credit Cards are definitely dischargeable but bankruptcy has also been made as painful as possible for working people.

Credit scores, created in the 80s, are required for any type of borrowing. Bankruptcy effectively denies the filer any type of credit or loans that aren't extremely predatory and costly. You effectively have to live 7 years without credit cards, new student loans, auto loans, mortgage, etc. Which, for many people under water might not be different than they live now, sans the credit cards. But in the absence of easy revolving credit, you may still need to borrow money to avoid eviction or your power being cut. In that case, your main option is going to be payday lenders. A service so corrupt and predatory it'd probably be classified as a criminal enterprise in the past.