The power of leverage. can we really blame the government or our lifestyle?

Everyone likes to blame the government, Bush, and just about everyone else, but themself.... If the ecomony is so bad and job are getting harder to get and are for more qualified people. why don't people borrow money from their equity to get higher education and maybe re-qualify, so that they can keep up with the changing world. instead they borrow money just so they can keep the lifestile they are use to. keep driving their 30-40k car and live in in a overpriced house, eat out so they can look "cool" and tell everyone how great their life is.... if you run a business you awlays have to be in touch with your surroundings, so that someone won't run you out of business, so why arent people that way too and who is to blame???