I don't know that it's just you guys. Most Aussies I know would fit into that description as well. The credit card debt in Oz is insane - there's little sense of responsibility and everyone needs instant gratification.
Yes this is by all means not limited to Americans. Most of Europe is fucked too. Credit has made it possible for nations and individuals to purchase things they otherwise couldn't afford to buy by saving. I personally have some bad debt, but I sure as hell have less debt than my annual income - which U.S. currently almost has.
To simplify this, if your income is $50k and you have $50k of credit card debt, how long is it going to take to pay back - after paying your other bills? Ok, let's say you pay back $200 / month and your debt has a super low interest rate, let's say 2%. How long would it take to pay that back? Answer: 27 years.
Japan is even worse, their national debt is 250% of their income.