>Both ordinary peoples and governments are pushed one way or another to spend beyond their means, which leads us to massive world wide indebtedness.
>
>This implies that ordinary people are stupid and incapable of thinking for themselves. I would say that this is a pretty low opinion of ordinary people.

Somehow, any way YOU understand things apparently sounds bad. Anyhow nothing to do with intention context or the point.
I do however understand your drive.