Over the past few years, the American economy has been booming. Obviously this is a good thing, because it leads to a higher standard of living for us Americans, and it also makes goods and services cheaper for us as consumers. However, this new economic growth has also created a new type of materialism. This new materialism is a plague that is rapidly spreading and infecting American citizens. “Americans' definition of the “good life” has become noticeably more materialistic in recent years” (Setlow 1). Americans not only want more, they believe that commodities are now essential.
Jeremy Seabrook, a writer who lives in the Southern United States, is one of the many Americans who have been brainwashed by the media to be good consumers. He says, “The culture of the West is usually seen as deeply, even incurably, materialistic…This needs to be challenged. For a truly materialistic society would have a far greater respect for the material world than the West displays” (Seabrook 1). This quote alone proves that this man is a hypocrite. The main reason materialistic ideals are shunned by some is because people who are materialistic aren't thankful for what they have. They only want more. He also states, “Truly materialistic societies are those of indigenous peoples, those who live in symbiosis with the [E]arth, for they treat the source of their well-being with reverence” (Seabrook 1). Once again, Mr. Seabrook proves that he is poorly educated on the topic at hand. Indigenous people only utilize what they need to survive. They live in houses made from palm fronds and trees, and they hunt for their food and they use everything that animal has to offer. Yes, they respect what they have and they do treat it with reverence. But, many of the “commodities” they own are made by hand, or they serve some higher purpose other than “just to have it.” Does someone who owns five cars and has a ten million dollar home have those things to just get by in life? I don't think so.
Very few people advocate against materialistic ideals, for they are shunned by the general public. The few amount of people who have the courage to voice their thoughts present very strong and factual writing. All of the people who are against materialism all have one universal view of this new age of materialism in America: “…[S]imply scratch the surface of the economic boom and you see a grotesque epidemic of desire and greed” (Schumaker 1). This statement couldn't be more true. Private spending of Americans is 50-90% greater than that of all of the European nations. Over the past five years, many Americans have racked up negative savings rates, meaning they spend more money then they earn. Across the nation, this number turns out to be close to $35 billion. John F. Schumaker is an American who moved to New Zealand. When he “…[R]eturns to the "all-consuming society"” (Schumaker 1), he is horrified to see how disturbing American consumers have become. He says, “…[M]aterialism has reached fever pitch and continues to rise sharply. In a 1976 survey of US high-school students, 38 per cent indicated that having "a lot of money" was a primary goal in life. In 1988, the figure had risen to 63 per cent” (Schumaker 2). One of the main problems with materialism is that people don't believe that they're avarice for commodities are destroying American culture. “Greed has lost most of its negative connotations” (Schumaker 2). However, Americans can't be held completely accountable because it is the media that grooms us to believe that we have to be good consumers. We are encouraged to nurture, respect, and act on any stirrings of our greed.
Retailers are the only ones that are truly benefitting from this new age of materialism. Americans are spending money continuously on meaningless items more and more often. Close to two-thirds of all adults believe that wearing “only the best designer brand clothing” conveys status (Setlow 1). Two-thirds of the adult population in America. A regular brand name is no different from a “fashionable” brand name. The only difference is that the “fashionable” brand names are good luring fools into their business that are willing to pay ninety to a hundred dollars for a pair of jeans. You could easily go to another store, and find the exact pair of jeans for ten dollars. The only difference would be that there isn't a little moose (Abercrombie and Fitch's logo) on them. Once again, it is not entirely the consumers fault. People are sucked into believing that they need to buy the most expensive and most idiotic things you can buy. “Most feel proud as well as fortified by the cultural assumption that overindulgence is good for the country” (Schumaker 2). They are not only brainwashed by the media, ones peers also play a major role in the behavior and values of oneself. In order to fit in, many teenagers conform to the majorities' view of “cool”, which usually involves them buying the “fashionable” brand names at a ridiculous price.
When someone grows up with getting everything they want, they are already starting the process of becoming materialistic. However, many of these people either don't know what it means to be materialistic, or they are simply too embarrassed to say that they are. So if someone who is truly materialistic is too embarrassed to admit they are, what is so “great” about materialism? Instead of blowing five hundred dollars on a shopping spree at the mall, why not invest it in something, such as stocks? Or just put money away so you can hopefully get enough money together to take an early retirement? There is absolutely no liable reason why someone needs such useless commodities. Materialism breeds nothing but greed and more greed.
