[idiot_stick]

>With this attitude, you might as well just give all your money to the bankers now and just be done with it.

With what attitude? Having knowledge of accounting, and that the balance sheet has two sides?

If anything, ignorance of finance is how you give your money to the bankers.

[mightybyte]

> If anything, ignorance of finance is how you give your money to the bankers.

I don't think it's quite that simple. It's probably some combination of a number of factors such as:

  * Inability to control one's spending
  * A consumer-driven culture where status is equated with material possessions
  * Availability of easy credit
  * Society not recognizing compulsive spending as an addiction