Re Americanos view:

"Why would anyone wonder that 44% of Americans say their personal financial situation is bad? The average US wage for 2006 was $17.75/hr, or $8.88/hr in 1985 money, which brings us back to the fallacy of applauding the creation of 'new' lower paying service industry jobs while losing higher paying goods production jobs. The lower economic tier of Americans buys cheap imported goods from Wal-Mart because that's all they can afford to buy. Americans had better hope China doesn't revalue the Yuan to help inefficient US industry become more competitive with a cheap USD because with decades of US fiscal irresponsibility at personal and public levels the USD will float right down there with the Peso".

It would appear Great Britain has the same flu bug as its American Cousins.

"Britain's personal debt mountain

Average personal debt is growing by £180 a month, say charity Credit Action
Britons are now in debt to the tune of £1.13 trillion - more £23,000 for every adult in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. (BBC article)

The disease strikes any country that simply takes in "each others laundry" to earn a living. It's called a "service economy". In the end however it always comes down to "No Tickee... No Washee !