Not only is Ms.Smith a victim of a credit card with a will of its own, she has to suffer the indignity of shopping at Target or God forbid, WalMart.
THIS IS THE LEVEL OF DEGRADATION OUR COUNTRY AND ITS ECONOMY HAVE SUNKEN.
I just do not know how we are going to survive.

Leaving aside the kidding for a moment, I'd have to say the deterioration of reporting,along with what defines a meaure of hardship, and the perception as to its worth as news is so much more evident in this LA Times piece, than anythinmg it says about the economy.
Let an article like this, more than anything else, say to you that people need, and may be getting, a short,sharp shock regarding excess, financial IGNORANCE, and/or complete lack of saving and preparation.
Hey! News media:~ Stop enabling the victim mentality!This is customized for the liberal to "feel" for these "victims" and direct their hate toward whoever they feel is responsible. This avoids the reality of personal responsibility. This is purely political and emotional.

Shop at thrift stores. Their stuff is better quality and
most likely made in the USA

Yep, this is embarrassing.