Source Courier Post Online:

A coalition of consumer advocates, public policy groups and academics wants to attack our country's dependence on debt by creating a national campaign much like the one used to curb smoking.

The organizations leading this effort include the Institute for American Values, the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, the New America Foundation, Public Agenda, Demos, the Consumer Federation of America, and the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions.

"We are trying to change attitudes," said David Blankenhorn, president of the Institute for American Values. "We would like to put in a good word for thrift as a value and a practice."