If we were willing to live in 1100 sq ft homes with one TV and drive our cars until the wheel fell off like grandad we could pay the mortgage off in 15 years also. The world has changed and that includes consumption patterns. From where I stand the middle class is expanding. Adults raised by college educated parents have continued to suceed where their parents did. Adults raised by parents with HS educations are now college graduates and are suceeding where their parents never did.
I ask the last 3 posters (Araya, patb & SK in CV) are you more successful, more educated and living a fuller life than your grand dad or are you the new underclass?