100 years ago, if you didn't have the money to buy something, you probably wouldn't get it. Sure, banks did make loans, and General Stores would let you borrow against future harvests, but people weren't pressured to keep getting more more more the way they are today.
Noonereal, how would you say the average citizens' debt from 100 years ago relates to what most americans owe today? It would be interesting to know what those figures are.
AHA!
http://politicalcalculations.blogspo...to-income.html