SHE'S the Enemy? Really?

So, there is suddenly backlash against financial adviser to the masses, Suze Orman. You know: The woman with the blond pixie cut who loves wild patterns and could have been in your mom's tennis league (see the I just had crazy for breakfast photo). Apparently, she is hot spokeswoman of the recession because if Suze tells you something's worth your money, then it probably is. And people are pissed, doing this whole "she has no right!" business. (See Gawker.)

Ok, dudes, the woman is clearly on the bonkersville side, but in a good way. And I, personally, don't think it's her moral obligation to not promote some no-interest financing package through GM. Tyler Florence shills for Applebees (a place with microwave food), and Lindsay Lohan used to clutch a Dooney and Burke bag for a campaign. The consumer is not so dumb that he doesn't know that ads are trying to sell him shit he PROBABLY DOESN'T NEED.

But, of course, the people who are crying foul aren't just saying this is a bad move but are basically calling for a burning at the stake. From the Gawk:

Suze Orman is, essentially, a hustler. It's not that she necessarily gives bad advice—it's that she sells the idea that anyone needs Suze Orman to give them advice in the first place. Here's an example: the strongly-haired CNBC personality wrote a book called Women and Money. You know what women need to know about money? The exact same stuff that men need to know. Stuff which is primarily available for free, on the internet. Like "don't spend money on books full of facts available for free elsewhere." Unfortunately, Americans are more seduced than ever before by Suze Orman's steely gaze. She's not your friend!

Though I felt like a complete asshole first finding it at the bookstore and then buying it, I read—more like CONSUMED like a starving 90210er—The Money Book for the Young Fabulous and Broke. And it's pretty amazing. I actually know what an Roth IRA is now and HAVE ONE. Sure, this info might be available online, but to get it all in one place and in a logical progression makes a ginormous difference. Before, I didn't even know where to start.

My friend D and I talked about our lack of money skills a couple months ago, and he was totally in the same place. He's a smart kid who had a liberal artsy college experience and so can barely master online banking. We realized that you only really learn financial life skills if in high school you were deemed ill-equipped for geometry and pre-calc. Sad stuff. So, I recommended Suze to him and anyone else I've talked to about this head-spinning APR/IRA/WTF. I mean, come on. Feeling competent is worth $25.