From today's Columbus (OH) Dispatch, this is a killer funny story, can you imagine heading up to the Smirky Motorcade and serving a subpoena for the National Debt? HA!

Failing to pay debts had dire consequences in the 19th century.

On Feb. 17, 1804, the Ohio General Assembly authorized the creation of debtors prisons.

The law read: ''There shall be erected in each county a good and convenient courthouse, and a strong and sufficient jail or prison, for the reception and confinement of debtors and criminals, well secured by timber, iron bars and grates, bolts and locks and also a pillory, whipping post and so many stocks as may be necessary for the punishment of offenders.''

However uncomfortable the imprisonment legislation might have read, in practice it was much worse.

Cincinnati's Western Spy newspaper reported in 1817: ''All (are) promiscuously confined in a single apartment, and without even the comfort of a bench to sit upon. Here is to be seen the disgusting -- the heart-rending -- spectacle of men and women, whites and blacks, murderers and debtors, all in one undistinguished group.''

People unable to pay loans or bills could be imprisoned for years.(emphasis added)

The prisons did not survive the century.

Suppose that you could lock up the Credit Card Conservatives for fiscal irresponsibility, would they ever wise up? Doubt it, beside, I think that there are some members of Congress who might pay big money for the "well secured by timber, iron bars and grates, bolts and locks and also a pillory, whipping post and so many stocks..." part.