Whether Grassley's emblematic new-car man exists or not is irrelevant. It affects everyone who is desperate enough to have to file for bankruptcy. The bigger problem, the one that has caused the number of bankruptcies to balloon, is that people have more credit than they know how to use. They acquire several cards and slowly accumulate debt without realizing how precarious their situation is. It's an oppressive feeling to be beholden to your creditors, to receive constant calls from collection agencies.
Bankruptcy is humiliating, painful, and in most cases expensive.
No one in his right mind chooses it. If some do, they need education, not punishment. If credit card companies want fewer defaults, they should stop marketing to people with bad debt or multiple credit cards in use. They should lower Draconian interest rates. They should lower available credit lines to people who carry a balance.