why do we so desperately need to be in surplus, page-2

steviek,

Ok.

To buy a house requires massive debt - yes.

However, imagine borrowing some money for a house, then adding to that debt (not paying it down) for the next 16 years.

The surplus is in effect, paying your home loan back.

Your example is a reverse mortgage, when old seniors don't have any capacity to pay it back but get a loan against there house, interest on interest until they die. Loan is twice as much as they started, kids get less.

But this isn't bad at all is it.