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A point well taken, and deserves repeating. Whoever is blessed enough to have a job in this current economy is a fool if they aren't socking away every extra dollar they make.

Actually, this is the WORST thing for everyone to do. It guarantees a downward spiral (the "Paradox of Thrift"). Right now people should be digging into savings and taking on debt to buy things in anticipation of better times ahead.

Unfortunately, during the go-go, cocaine powered Clinton years, NO ONE saved like they should have. During the years of above average economic growth, debt of all kinds went up. Everyone gambled their money in the stock market. It was ridiculous. My wife's decorator was daytrading, for crying out loud!?! One time, she mentioned a highflying tech stock she bought and I decided to see how much research she'd done. PE? Didn't know. Competitors? Didn't know. Market share? Didn't know. Apparently, the stock chart showed a "cup and handle" pattern which gave a buy signal. Of course, she's blown all her gains and lost most of her principal since the bubble burst.

Gimme a break. You're encouraging people to go into debt? In times such as this? What you're saying is typical of wall street hucksters and money-grubbers...."keep building up that credit card debt", "don't worry about being good stewards of your families' finances", "keep right on spending."

I've had enough of this financial drivel that passes for patriotism. The wise ones are storing away their grain for future storms on the horizon. You'd best do likewise, else you're gonna be like the proverbial grasshopper.

No. NFW. You gotta look out for yourself; you have no obligation to "help the economy". Taking on debt in this environment is nothing more than a crap shoot. You're betting that the money you make in the next five years (e.g., car loan) is best spent on a fancy new car rather than making your mortgage payment and eating for six months while you are looking for a new job.