Does post-1980s style American capitalism encourage you to live within your means?

Of course it doesn't.

One need look no further than the explosion of the use of credit cards.

Of course it's all a bubble contingent upon:

1) Credit card users being able to pay off their minimum debt.

2) There being a steady supply of people able and willing to use credit cards.

The minute a critical number of Americans can't make those minimum payments and/or Americans begin to save more and spend less or are no longer eligible for credit cards, the credit card companies will go belly up and all the industries which rely on people to buy their goods and/or services via credit cards will also fall apart.

Long story short, roughly 60% of the American economy is based on consumer spending (which, in and of itself is troubling, but that's another discussion...), mostly fueled by credit card use.

If something happens to consumer spending and/or the credit card use it depends upon, this entire ship of fools immediately sinks.

The American economy is literally balanced on a bubble that could pop any day.

Heck, it almost did in 2008 with the housing crises, but that too is another discussion...

What distinguishes pre and post 1980's style American capitalism? We have had a crony capitalism for many years but more recently the Government has taken even more power and influence over the system of capitalism and the results have not been favorable.

No. Post-1980 style American capitalism encourages you to purchase on credit and spend the rest of your life paying down your debts, which wouldn't be too bad if we could maintain a stable economy and keep Americans employed.

Post 1980's capitalism is all about deregulation and it's just a free-for-all. It's like a "I got mine Jack" attitude. Today's capitalism encourages you to do whatever possible to "win." Living within the means is irrelevant.

not precisely. you have a suitable to stay on the land, yet government regularly occurring homestead possession as a ought to make social progression. interior the previous days, the main useful individual owned the final cave, only like interior the wild. yet as we progressed as a society, we now use meant to apply brains and not the brawn. in case you used your brains, you will possibly purchase a house you could discover the money for and pay off. or you're in debt and don't own genuine sources. that could be a private decision what cave you reside in. Be it a condo cave or place of abode or a financial employer owned cave or a house. you do not deserve something loose in existence. you ought to artwork for it.

The unvarnished truth nailed it.

The post-80's style of debt spending on too many levels (personal, state, federal) has us tottering. Wow, you thought the housing bubble was bad -- if you are correct about the whole economy, we truly are in a house of cards.

I would desperately love to live within my means.Trouble is I have Rolls Royce tastes

on a Volkswagen budget.I mean what's a guy to do.

Not really. My parents taught me how to live within my means.