RE:RE:Global Debt Reaches a Record $226 TrillionBonds are IOUs. You agree to give the issuer your money for a fixed period of time in exchange for interest in the meantime and the return of principle eventually. The people are owed $226 trillion dollars by the bond issuers and if the issuer(s) goes bankrupt the bond holders take the loss.
I would rather hold gold than government bonds but that's just me.