At least today (I believe in most, but not all countries) we don't have the specter of debtors' prison. I'd say that was a pretty hard barrier to a second chance.
I think we can all agree that these are special cases. In general, you don't go to jail until your family bails you out if you can't pay your car, house or credit card bill. or your business loan for that matter.
I don't think we should be agreeing to these as "special cases" at all. Things are already too convenient for the state.
The government is arguably propagating these special cases at an alarming rate. At least one version of the "health reform bill" is reputed to make not having private health insurance a crime, as Massachusetts does at present. Sure, those who can document their poverty are supposed given help in these matters but this leaves a disturbingly large area where criminal codes are going enforce private debts.
