[itairall]

The problem is 50% of the people in the US are spendthrifts and absolutely terrible with saving money.

It doesn't matter what their income is. A spendthrift can always find something to spend all their money on no matter how high their income is.

The American spendthrifts are also the types to have huge levels of debt to service.

If you always spend everything you have and everything you are credit worthy of you are not going to be able to handle an unexpected financial shock. Even if healthcare was free in the US, there would be some other shock that would be a problem almost by definition of being a spendthrift.

These discussions are always so pointless because the relationship people have to money is so hugely varied.

It is also why it was a huge disservice to spendthrifts in the US to pause student loan payments for this long. Not only is that student loan payment gone for 50% of the people but it is probably actually servicing additional debt after this long.