For decades, the credit card has symbolized the American way of life, but this recession may force both the symbol and the reality to change.

Spooked by plunging home prices and mounting job losses, consumers have cut back on credit card use, pumping less cash into an economy that depends on their ability and willingness to spend.

Meanwhile, Congress, reacting to complaints about credit card marketing practices, has tightened the rules on penalties and fees – spurring bankers to warn that consumer credit will become more costly and difficult to obtain.

The credit card issue is part of a larger problem of how to ensure that the financial system supplies enough credit to keep the economy moving without providing so much that it overheats and collapses. (Read more at; SFGate.com)

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{Photography by Retinafunk}