One refreshing consequence of the financial meltdown is Hollywood and athletic celebs taking a back seat to serious debates by well-educated economists and analysts.

Our consumption culture has been led by our celebrity culture in which bling and late-night antics in Las Vegas clubs define accomplishment. Wanting to be like "them" contributed to out of control consumption and more debt. 

Now, the news is packed with smart people trying diligently to think through difficult economic and political issues to forge a positive public outcome.

That is a nice change.