It sounds like Jessica's ex-husband represents a creature we all know -- the individual who is trying to appear wealthy (because that makes everyone like you, right!?). 

Though it's been upsetting, I haven't been altogether surprised by the collapse of so much in the last year or so. I think you hit on an interesting point, Kristin, when you discuss the possibility that we might be the ones who are at fault. While the systems that are falling apart were created by someone else, the systems were created because people demanded them in one way or another. If someone wanted to prove they were cool by driving a shiny car, there was (and still is) someone out there who would figure out a way to get them into that car. If they wanted a big house -- No problem! A couch for that new living room? YES! They'd make that happen too!

These industries, while they still cause problems for people, are regulated. The industry Madoff worked in is not. If the regulated portion of the financial industry could consistently give you a 20% return, they would have. Since they couldn't, we should have, and many did, suspected Madoff was doing something fishy. 

In the end, we know that Madoff was lying to his clients. And while he is to blame, I think it's important that we understand that what he did was simple - he created a product that people wanted. Something that made people feel good. Like so many things, fancy cars, nice houses and a new couch, a 20% annual return made people feel good. He knew people wanted this, and though he lied through and through, he gave them what they wanted...to be rich and beat the odds (do better than you would with traditional investments). We now know that those who went with Madoff made a bad gamble.

It's such an ugly picture, but it seems the solution, if we were to try to generalize, is to stop wanting. It's a basic economic principle. If the demand for "want" goes down, the products that are created to satisfy "want" will not sell and ultimately not be produced. 

So, there you go, everyone. Stop wanting! :)