"and found that when all assets are measured, Americans are about where they've always been in assets-to-debt;"
Do you know if they're including retirement savings as an asset? If so, that's likely to skew the picture when compared to the past where you employer's set aside for your pension would not have been included.
"and that when you measure forced savings like Social Security and include housing"
Housing isn't savings, its an investment. And SS? Hopefully by now we all know that flows directly through to the general fund. Its not savings.
Housing is savings if, in fact, the purpose of your savings is to buy a house. Either way, it's an asset.