From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

The American Dream and extended credit.

Hello again, I'm Orman Alley, and this is To the Poet from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Despite the recession with

unemployment near 10%, Americans are still accumulating more debt. Solicitations for credit cards

tripled last year. Lenders and retailers say the American dream, big home, big car, and college,

makes consumers willing to go into Hawk. They also see signs of frugality fatigue. Others contend the law

itself is rigged in favor of adenetiveness with incentives that reward debt and discourage saving.

Why are people spending money they don't have? Is it good for the economy? Is the government

setting the right example? On reporter's notebook later on, John the 2nd and the fast track to St. Hood.

First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation, the John

D. and Catherine T. McArthur Foundation, and the

Skoll Foundation, supporting social entrepreneurs around the world, uncommon heroes dedicated to the common

good. Learn more at Skoll.org. Hello again, Warran Alney, back with To the Point. U.S. consumers

scaled back in the first years of the Great Recession, but now they're buying again and getting extended credit.

Are the laws written to encourage debt?

Are Americans born to shop, even when they can't afford it?

On reporter's notebook, Pope Benedict XVI has approved a miracle by his hugely popular

predecessor, John Paul II, but questions are being raised about his qualifications for

...