Yours is a very pessimistic view. You have no faith in your fellow human beings. There are a lot of smart enough people out there with sufficient will power to make these changes in their life if only they have the education and awareness of the opportunities. Sometimes all it takes is seeing the impact these changes have.
One of the best quotes I have seen about finances is this:
Poor people spend what they have and invest the rest.
Rich people invest what they have and spend the rest.
I've unwittingly been following this advice for a long time. When I save up enough money, I buy a HOUSE. An entire house I'm not just talking down payment. I have 5 houses now. I rent them out. I flip them. I live in them. Did you know you can buy an entire house for less than $5,000? A lot of people don't. I think those that buy houses retail or rent are silly. You think people who try to convince others that giving up coffee works are silly. To each his own. Why buy stocks and bonds when you can buy a house that pays $500/mo rent on a $5000 purchase?
Most people think I'm insane when I say that kind of thing, but it happens and it works. It takes experience, research, and time. It takes dedication and will. Strength of character and determination. Those are the characteristics that are lacking in our population right now and unfortunately those things aren't being taught. Those are the things needed to launch a startup, build wealth, and pay off credit card debt. They are also what is needed to give up coffee at Starbucks, so start with the coffee and you'll build better people for the long run -- that's what's important.
> There's no medium ever invented that does this better than television.
I internet is better for me, but I get your point.
> They want coffee, and buying one at the starbucks next
> to work is a lot easier and tastier than brewing it
> yourself.
If Starbucks is tastier and easier than your home brew, you're doing it wrong.
> automate your finances
If you think automating your finances is easier than not getting a coffee at starbucks -- well, I disagree entirely. Most people can't even balance a checkbook.
> purchase the bond/equity ratios that suit your age
Really? These are advanced investment concepts and it takes a lot of education to get there. Start first with not spending more than you make. I think that's the point of the article. Once you manage that, then start thinking about where to invest. You're putting the cart before the horse.
All these concepts can and are being learned by people all over the world. It just takes time. You have to crawl before you walk. Crawling out of the hole of debt is the first move. If you keep spending at starbucks and paying 20% interest while you're trying to get 6% on bonds (if you're lucky) then you're still losing money. The secret to building wealth is first and foremost to stop losing money.