Quote:
Originally Posted by John Wesley  Does anyone else think that this societal craze for wealth is a disease? True, anyone can get rich, but not everyone can. There isn't enough to go around. The burning desire to get rich isn't natural either, it is the result of constant marketing campaigns that persuade us to buy products we don't really need and media that worships the wealthy. I think it leads to a lot of dissatisfied people who would otherwise be content with a comfortable existence. |
I don't think that the "craze for wealth" is a disease as much as the craze for an appearance of wealth.
What I consider the "big three" are cars, homes, and fancy/useless trinkets that the idiot consumers refer to as "bling." Most of that is the proverbial "keeping up with the Joneses," and is driven by the mass media. Best example of krap driven by the media? Diamonds.
My personal faults, and what's dragging me down is: I bought too much house, I eat out too much, and I spend too much money taking friends out to dinner.
I'd like to highlight a few statements 'though.
"There isn't enough to go around." Ever notice how the people saying this are usually the ones that are not wealthy? (note: I had a job at 12 to help support the family. I am not a silver spoon kid)
"The burning desire to get rich isn't natural" Actually, the burning desire to be lazy is. And in order to be lazy, you have to be independantly wealthy. To be independantly wealthy, you have to get rich.
"I think it leads to a lot of dissatisifed people who would otherwise be content with a comfortable existence." Ignorance is bliss? If you are saying that the media is telling people that they need to buy the iPhone and xbox360 and ferarri and ... to be happy, then I agree. Weak people getting brainwashed sucks. If you mean to say that people would be happier if they didn't know that that stuff existed, then I think you're not looking at the situation correctly.