To the "New Poor"

While the New York Times and all the rest bemoan the end of the era of decadence, the beginning of a sort of "new austerity," some of us can only sigh....a long sigh, a sign of resignation (or maybe a sigh of recognition). Frugalistas, be aware that you are really nouveaux. But nouveaux what? Hmm. Anyhow. Some of us, my dears, have been at this for a long time, at the business of looking great for, well, peanuts. We've been at it a long time. If there is a "new poor" let's not forget the ancient regime: the "old poor." Call it "old debt," if you like.