Exactly 1, 998 years ago Mary, also heavily pregnant, would have had to struggle along a crowded street full of people jostling and pushing.

BBC: Seeing chaos at Christmas

The study may overestimate the number of bankruptcies caused by medical bills yet underestimate the financial burden of health care on American families, because most people struggle along but don't end up declaring bankruptcy, according to Cunningham.

CNN: Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies

In the real world, when companies fail people struggle right along with them, and no threats can cajole a different outcome.

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