I dunno, but the credit card companies seem to be doing a pretty good job of it.  Same with the Federal Reserve.  Would you get rid of them as well? ;-)<p>(It's a semi-serious question.  Credit card companies encourage people to buy things they can't afford and then carry the balance - it's how they make money.  And the Federal Reserve attempts to cause continual low-level inflation, such that savings are worth less and debts are easier to pay back the longer you carry them.  I don't really support either practice, but there are <i>lots</i> of things America is doing to discourage savings and encourage debt.)