> can a private person not default in the USA They can. But there are some debts which cannot be discharged that way. (Meaning some debts go away, but others d

> can a private person not default in the USA They can. But there are some debts which cannot be discharged that way. (Meaning some debts go away, but others don't.) For example if you owe child support payments that doesn't go away just because you default. Or if you owe someone debt because you caused them an injury in a wilful and malicious manner that cannot be discharged by defaulting. These are explicitly defined exceptions in the USA law. And so is student loans.