Writes Chris Wilkerson:

I remember you posting this awhile ago, I am so proud of our country (sarcasm), the credit crisis has brought layaway advertising back. I was listening to one of my favorite financial shows (Dave Ramsey, who wishes to balance our government’s budget severely), and a Sears commercial came on advertising they have layaway, rather than credit cards.

Of course my real point is instead of teaching our citizens that they should live within their means, we’ll just offer them different ways to consume as usual. My friend Lance [who has a radio show here in Houston] always says, banks, government, credit card companies, they’ll never tell you the secret to financial success which is “spend less than you make.” I’ve shown his 10 immutable laws of money and Dave Ramsey’s financial advice to many people, most scurry me off in a hurry thinking it’s the dumbest idea that 401ks and social security + spend everything you have makes the world go around. I always laugh when I hear them go “I can’t afford this $5/lunch this week because I’m broke” while sitting on their $3k sofa watching their $4k plasma screen tv.