IMHO, I think it's a little of both -- people who refuse to save and people who can't afford to save. Sometimes it's generational. My parents grew up during the Great Depression. They had to pinch every penny to survive. They taught their children to do the same.
But I have a friend about 12 years younger who never saves anything. Last year she lost her job. i paid her rent even though I'm retired and not exactly wealthy, till she fortunately landed another job 6 weeks later. But do you think that job loss would have been an incentive to save? No. Her car is on its last leg and she really needs a new one. But instead of putting money aside for it, she just bought a big screen tv. Next time she loses her job or suffers some other reversal of fortune, I don't know if I'll bail her out again.
On the other hand, I know a number of people who are just barely getting by. Purchasing health insurance for themselves and their families takes a huge chunk out of every paycheck. Then when the kids fall out of a tree or get sick, the deductibles and copays are enormous. Then there is the cost of necessities like food, clothing and shelter. I don't suppose these economics experts have been to a supermarket lately.
Those who say the economy is much better under Obama are either lying or seriously delusional.
