In fact, through more recent years, this HAS been the message.
Fact: A funny tee-shirt is circulating out there with a Master Card and the words, "Debt Slave".
Future Hope #1: To have every debt you acquired paid off, or start over through whatever legal means possible, including bankruptcy methods, though they are not equally fair for persons as they are for corporations.
Future Hope #2: Reduce the need to borrow, eat lower to the food chain and perhaps even grow your own vegetables, indoor methods are out there, and so are the seeds of this knowledge.
Future Hope #3: Do no get sucked into consumer or student loan debt. Take one course at a time, starting with a vocational program, if you need to be re-trained.
They'll come to their knees, if we only knew how to consume or NOT consume. WE are the consumers, and the soon we understand that power, the more powerful we will be. We are the 99%, are we not?