People have needs, and they aren't too picky about how they're fulfilled. Example; the credit industry sprang forth in my twenties. There was a need, under Reagan, to appear to be wealthy. Designer labels (even shampoo, for godssakes), brand name everything, nouvelle cuisine, all 80s creations. The working poor got credit en masse, at high interest rates, and began living way beyond their means. This heretofore unknown option was, and is, too good to be true. It encourages the cycle of poverty and instant gratification, too. It's nice to have the finer things. And there are always Joneses to keep up with in your life. I know whole neighborhoods that compete over material displays. This behavior rubs off on the kids, who come to expect lavish kiddie parties and mountains of presents.
But for whom is this set up a win-win situation? The rich, of course. Not only do they get the money they invest back in triplicate, one way or another; they begin to look as heroes just because they're rich and that's what we should be aspiring to be. This breeds the theory that if you're poor you're a lazy loser, or worse. Remember Bush's infamous quote that, "Not all poor people are murderers"? Thanks, Georgie Porgie. What understanding of economics he possesses!
The rich hold control over us via the moneystrings they play with- they create the tune we dance to and set the prices we pay. No matter what, it's to their advantage. Ever hang out with the really rich? The topic of the conversation is always their money and what they're doing with it.
Meanwhile. as we get deeper in debt a sort of hopelessness sets in; we'll never not be in debt so why not blow it all? Voila! We've sold our financial freedom and security for a wardrobe with other people's names all over it, a car we can't afford to run and a pretense we should never have bought into.