Life in Society's New Subculture ..!

Today saw yet another arrow to the heart of those living in western society's latest subculture ... that is those unable to afford the very latest technology and who do not wish to add to the ever burgeoning level debt in the UK.

The UK Government no less is demanding our energy bills will come with compulsory 'Quick Response' (QR) codes
"... to help people switch supplier more easily ..."
BBC News March 10th 2014

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was working under the possible misapprehension that if you can't afford your (essential) energy bills then you're in no position to be able to afford the latest technological gizmos nor to take on new debt... 

Or is it that, according to the current way of seeing things, I am off on a strange tangent of some sort, ...someone living in a world where the priorities of life have been rewritten?

If you have a '3G' or '4G' mobile or a £300+ tablet then how can it be 'off' of me to expect you already have your fuel bills taken care of?

Or am I so out of step with modern society and 'everyone' is now living under a recently constructed set of rules and mores within some 'new social order' ?
If that is the case then I truly am witnessing the formation of an entirely new subculture?

You tell me, which is more Important to you in this life, ...
feeding your family and heating your family's home
or having the very latest (and therefore more expensive) technological gizmos? It's not so very complicated, just basic common sense ... It's previously been known as having a set of priorities.

However, today's news has really stunned me. Surely, if our Government and politicians want so much to 'break the cycle of poverty and debt', then why do they go out of their way in such a fashion to support such skewed mores, in this way?