ATV now or bypass later?

rangelMD.com has an insightful commentary on Americans' personal financial decisions regarding health care. Without a doubt our health care system is broken and unaffordable. Nevertheless for many middle class Americans it is possible to save and plan for future health care - or retirement - although few do.

It has become customary in the US nowadays to forgo saving for the future (such as for health care one will need as one ages) for expensive, gratify-me-now consumer items purchased with credit cards. Credit card debit has balloned in recent years and although some of this is a result of costly health care, most is not. As Rangel points out, it ultimately will be younger taxpayers that will foot the bill (assuming Medicare is still around!) for irresponsible spending as the middle class ages with their huge credit card debit.