http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Logo_250X250.jpg http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Background_1024X576.jpg http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Banner_686X60.jpg http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Half-Banner_234X60.jpg http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Logo_250X250 http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Logo-Watermark_250X250.jpg http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Background_1024X576.jpg http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Half-Banner-ALT_234X60.jpg Bigthink http://www.bigthink.com/feed/rss/comment/idea/9417 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:22:51 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.bigthink.com/business-economics/9417 The problem isnt specifically American. Western societies have become increasingly consumerist.<br /><br />The countries that are strong savers, China and Japan, are countries that have no social net. People there save out of fear.<br /><br />I dont think that we have to be like that. It should be enough that we spend to a budget, put something away for the unexpected and make sure that our debt obligations are sensible relative to our incomes. Commonsense.<br /><br />(I was taught this stuff in school.)<br /><br />RO Bigthink Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:10:56 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/business-economics/9417/#14748