First Post - Confused? Debt Settlement?

I've been reading numerous posts over the past couple weeks but decided to take the plunge and post one myself. Unlike many of you, the only debt I have is my mortgage and it's 50% paid off (thanks to "Transforming Debt into Wealth" - it really works). I've been a good citizen and have been fortunate to have steady employment for the past 20+ years and never missed a single debt payment in my life. After reading all these posts about people settling with their creditors for 25% of their balance, I'm just astonished at these companies for even considering it. It's like getting a "get out of jail for free" card. Who pays the other 75%? The government? No one at all? Or does the creditor eat the difference? If the government pays it, then my tax dollars are bailing many of you out. If the creditor eats it, the rest of us get subjected to higher interest rates. Is this what America has become? I'm sorry for being so harsh but how can people charge thousands of dollars of "stuff" then NOT expect to pay it back? Please explain this one to me.