MariaHobbit often quotes from a book she read about cyclical trends in society, I cannot think of the name of it right now. I think the super indulgent "me-ism" of the eighties which has continued up to the looming recession on at least the US horizon combined with the highly publicized excesses of too many of the offspring of the rich and famous, if not the rich and famous themselves, tend to lead people to realize that money can be abused just as badly if not worse than drugs, alcohol, or other things not dealt with wisely and within moderation. I think there is also a growing realization that however the current outcome was arrived at, far too much of the world's wealth is in far too little of the wealthiest's hands, and it is time to even out the balances a bit. There is sound financial planning and frugality to be sure, and no one is saying that planning to leave children or grandchildren a nestegg is wrong, but, there is such blatant gross abuse of that concept by way too many. I am glad to see someone like Paris Hilton cut off from grandpa's money. In a way, it is the best thing that could happen to her. In any case, she still will be living a lifestyle that is far above and beyond what most others will ever manage.
In other words, the societal system is managing a bit of self correction, and I do think for at least some, our views have vastly grown beyond family first, neighbors second, then whatever else to maybe going right to the "whatever else" parts that often times can be so brutally ignored. Whether it remains a trend over the next future twenty yars or so? who can say, but as Baby Boomers age and fortunes change hands yet again, it could prove interesting to see what transpires.