How TV contributes to debt and bankruptcy

The current rates of debt and the rising incidence of bankruptcies is both distressing and frightening. It would be saddening to examine the homes of the newly-declared bankrupt, and see furniture, clothing, and appliances that seem to have come from places like the Salvation Army and Goodwill, but it would make sense. "Here," we could say to ourselves, "are people who tried to be frugal, to use their money wisely, but the mountain was just too high for them to climb."

But, much of the time, that's not the case. Astonishingly, the 'bankrupt' often have homes loaded down with the latest goodies and fashions. So, I ask myself why. Why do people spend all of their money (and then some!) on things they may want, but don't really need?

The answer I came up with is television. It used to be that keeping up with the Joneses meant acquiring the same quality of goods and services as your neighbor. But your neighbor was just that: someone who had been able to afford a home in a similar price range to your own. Rarely would this stretch a family's income to the breaking point.

However, now the 'Joneses' we're keeping up with are from the whole world, and most often exist only in the mind of wealthy Hollywood types. This can and does break down budgets and probably families, too.

What a horrible little box from hell the tv often seems to be!