CLARKONOMICS: Clark wants you to take control of your financial future. The problem is that our debt level is not allowing us to be captains of our own ships. We no longer actually pay for things; we've become a nation of payment buyers. Many of us seek instant gratification whether or not we have the money for it. Delinquencies are rising on almost every kind of loan. Clark recently saw a Federal Reserve chart depicting the total debt level of consumers. It's doubled in just 10 years -- and that's after being adjusted for inflation and not counting mortgage debt. We as citizens have changed our relationship with money for the worse.

Clark recently did a series on CNN Headline News where he served as a money counselor. Every single person he worked with had excessive debt. That's becoming the normal American story. The only legitimate reason to take on debt is to make more wealth. Mortgage debt used to be considered good debt, but even that's up for debate nowadays. With cars, people are stretching their loans way beyond the old standard of about 36 months.

If it sounds like Clark is haranguing you, well, he is. If you're on the "debt express," get off the train and get onto another one -- the "cash is king" train. The sad thing is that debt is no longer just a uniquely American disease. The international press is reporting all around the world about debt woes. Humans have a tendency to spend money that we don't have. Think about it: People eat more when they're offered larger portions -- it's human nature. It's hard as humans to be our own enforcers, but think about the freedom you can have if you take control of how you handle money. Next time you get a credit card application in the mail, realize that they're not giving you something for free. They're actually conspiring to take away your financial freedom.