I'm not sure about the US, but in the UK there should be nothing that leads an individual into debt other than their "bad" choices.
Maybe that's me being naive, as I've been fortunate to be well above the bread line, and never had a minimum-wage job etc. But let me explain:
We offer free health care. It's not ideal, but if you don't have insurance / medical cover, you'll still be seen by your GP, still (eventually) get your surgery, and if it's an emergency then you'll get it straight away. All at no charge.
We offer council housing. It's better than nothing, that's for sure. It's often not ideal, in horrible places, cheap, tacky, run-down, but it's a roof over one's head. And cheap.
We offer unemployment benefit: if you're not working you can get a certain amount per week. It's not much, but then you're not working. It's c.£75 a week, I think. It should hopefully cover living expenses for an individual. It doesn't, and shouldn't, cover holidays abroad, a cigarette/alcohol habit, expensive clothing etc.
So with that in mind, what can lead someone to being in debt: it is simply living beyond one's means, and buying something now and agreeing to pay for it later.
It's sad that people can't afford what they want, but that is the society in which we live. Affording the basics is what government should (in my liberal and socialist view) provide (albeit only to those who
can't afford the basics, not to those who choose not to work to afford them). But beyond that it is up to each individual to live within their means.
Those I have least sympathy for are those earning a modest salary (e.g. £20-30k) but living as if they're earning much more (e.g. £40-50k), who then complain that they're in debt. At some point the line of credit comes to an end.
Is that what is meant by "financial literacy" - not just the understanding but the wherewithall to implement sound financial planning?
Anyhoo - to the OP: surely society is built upon the presumption that we are all responsible for our actions - financial as well as non-financial. Being in debt is therefore presumed to be noone's fault other than the one who is in debt. One could argue it comes from a lack of education of relevant financial matters, or from simply not being intelligent enough to understand. But then we're into the wider ethical debate of responsibility, which would cover financial and non-financial matters.
Sorry - bit of a stream of consciousness. 11pm after a bottle of Rioja can do that.