[cercis]

I'd say it's equal responsibility.

The credit cards are in the position of power. No one makes them give credit to anyone (as long as they aren't proven to be discriminating based solely on race or gender). No one makes them raise the credit limits (again with the disclaimer).

Now, no one makes the person charge more, this is true. But, if you have a car breakdown and have no money - which is better? Charging it on a credit card or going to the payday loan places? (assume with me that they live in the area I live in where you cannot get to work without a car, there is no public transportation and no one who can give them a ride)

If the money is available, it is all too easy to charge to cover those unexpected events. And, to a certain extent, it makes the most financial sense to do so (versus losing your job or paying 100% interest to a payday loan place).

The trouble starts when the limit is continually raised so that they charge things they shouldn't charge (new clothes when the other clothes still fit, etc). There is a mentality (which the cc companies prey on) which says "they wouldn't give me this high of a limit if I coudn't afford it".

If I loan money to a friend who doesn't have a job and doesn't show ability to get a decent job, then what do you say to me when he doesn't pay me? "That's wrong, he should have paid, but ... you know ... you should have known he probably wouldn't pay anyway."