then and now
This is a fascinating little comparison of spending patterns between 1950 and 2005.
I think the summary up top does a bad job of highlighting the key points--entertainment spending has increased a little yes, but much less than spending on apparel, personal insurance, and food has dropped. And spending on reading/education has also increased. The big reasons that overall spending is higher are housing/utilities, which more than doubled, and health care. To me this doesn't paint a picture of soaring irresponsibility (which isn't to say that doesn't exist)--it describes what things have gotten more or less expensive, accessible, or important in a globalized economy.