I think this problem is SOOO much bigger than what people here are mentioning. And, it starts with our government. Our government should set examples for spending and saving. Pres Bush's tax refund after 9/11, and his comment about not saving it, but "go shopping" is ludicrous!!!!
However, it is understandable in an economy whose success is based on the premise that people will buy what they want, rather than what they need. I was appalled to see at the Detroit auto show, that most American car manufacturers are still producing large SUV hybrids, while foreign manufacturers are the only producers of small, energy-efficient hybrids.
In China, the average income is $4 per day. The government spends a great deal of resources to promote "saving". The government (who is the US's biggest lender) actually puts out campaigns to enocourage citizens to save as much as they possibly can. Even on $4 a day....most Chinese save half of their income. The whole idea of "Can I afford a home, a car, etc." comes ONLY if they can do that and still save half their income. Can you IMAGINE what a difference that would make, if every time you turned on the TV there were public service announcements asking Americans to save, not spend?!! Just that one "reminder" alone would encourage people to ask, "Do I really neeed that?".
And yet....if people stopped spending, our economy would crumble. America is like a heroin addict....we just need to spend more and more to keep moving. This addiction is covering the fact that we are basically not competitive in a "needs" market, but rather only in a "luxury" market.
Already, talks are occuring between the leaders of the other countries in the world that the Dollar is not the "currency" to be investing in....we are slowly, but surely losing our status as world leader.....and, for Americans, the changes in lifestyle that result from this shift will be very hard to swallow.
We are trading our "world leader" status for SUVs, gameboys, and 100in. HD Plasma TVs. Keeping up with the Jones's is bankrupting our country.
Our food supply is tainted....it is actually hard to eat healthy in this country. You have to shop as special stores, and pay $$$ to find food that will not make you sick. Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils, and high fructose corn syrup are making us the fattest and sickest nation on earth. I was looking for a place to invest for the future, and came across an article stating that putting money in limb prosthetics, kidney research, and eye research is the best place to put your money. Because if things do not change, in 20 years Americans will be losing eyes, limbs and kidneys to diabetes in alarming numbers. There is actually a movement (started by a Yale professor) to allow people to "sell" a kidney on the open market. This idea is gaining support from surprising places. But, the fact that you cannot shop in your corner market and buy healthy food, untainted by pesticides, hormones, or antibiotics is terribly frightening to me. People in other countries do not "diet"....it is an American phenomenon, and only since the 1970's....genetics do not change that quickly....it has GOT to be what we are eating. Try to find a gym in Paris....they are hard to find.....we exercise more, and yet we are fat...something is very weird about that.
Some of the most popular shows on TV involve helping people organize and get rid of their "junk"....we are buying bigger and bigger homes, and then renting storage sheds to keep all the stuff that doesn't fit....we, as a country have issues.
I agree that Oprah's show does seem hypocritical....but, personal responsibility is the key. We are grown-ups....we need to take responsibility for our own health and finances....and we need to ask those we elect as stewards of our country and our "best interests" to do the same.
Sorry for ranting....it's just that we are a "sick" country, and we ALL need to find a way out. We limit our children's desires (okay, well some of us do), but we put no such restrictions on ourselves....it has GOT to start with us.
And, just in case you are wondering....we had over $110,000 in credit card and student loan debt. We now only have our house payment (we are hoping to pay off our house early). Financial freedom is a more powerful drug than anything you could buy at the store....especially if you have to finance it.
Beca