Why is America so materialistic? You can't take the money with you.?

Question

I mean if we would stop worrying about our fancy car and big house, mothers could stay home (with the exception of single mothers) and nurture their children. Our kids would be healthier and happier. If we stopped worrying about paper bills with no real value, we would actually be more happy, healthy and prosperous.

I am not saying we don't need money, I am saying, why all the excess and flaunting of unecessary wealth. Feed Africa or somehting, don't buy a new cell phone.

Answer 1

In America,the streets are not paved in gold. I don't drive a fancy car. I have a 1976 Toyota Corolla. And not everyone lives in a big fancy house either. Many hard working people take public transportation and make do with what they have.

Answer 2

I love when people have no idea of what America actually does, especially when they are AMERICANS!

We do feed the hungry of most of the world. We've even tried in some cased to go in and plant crops, put livestock in place and teach them how to expand their growth to where they'd eventually end up with more food than they would know what to do with. In most cases, they've ravaged the crops, eating them to the point where there was nothing left to grow, slaughtered all of the livestock, which they had more than enough of, then ended up right back where they began.

Apparently people think that we, with our money, can undo thousands of years of engrained habits, in a matter of a few years or decades. Sorry, that's not how reality works.

Here's a better question, why do we repeatedly see film footage by huge television network media, that shows these starving people and those media people tell us that we should be helping? Um, how about they give them a sandwich instead of taking a picture of them to get higher ratings?

Answer 3

Because big business has made it impossible to live on just one salary. Exactly how are you supposed to feed those kids that you have if you don't have any worthless paper bills? Grow enough food on the windowsill of the 50 square foot apartment?

You are right, just quit your job and stay home and live on welfare.

I hope that you wake up from your dream world.

Answer 4

well, let's see... if i stop working, they'll repossess my house, my 2 cars, no food, no heat/air, no water. i'll get my kids taken away from me because i won't be able to feed or care for them; my next 2 choices would be either live under a bridge in a box or move back in w/ my parents. i don't know about u, but neither of these choices appeal to me. u can't take it w/u, but it sure helps u out a lot in this life. so most ppl don't work for material-gain; most ppl just work to make a decent living. does this answer ur question for u?

Answer 5

I'm not sure if only America is so materialistic... I think it is more evident in America because we have the means to behave that way but I'd imagine people everywhere often see possessions as a means to happiness... and who doesn't want to be happy?

Answer 6

It's a way of idolatry. There is a sustitution of God for money. And money asks for human sacrifices of millions people who doesn't have any money, or food, or house, or school, or health.

Thin lot of mone for a few persons is a sin.

Answer 7

America and Europe's materialism is an outgrowth of a basic materialistic metaphysics and a value system of radical individualism.

Answer 8

your avatar is weird... anyway, unfortunately, it is a reality of life that we need money to live on ~~ rent, food, necessities. AND, I HATE TO TELL YOU,BUT LOVE WON'T PAY THE BILLS! Your landlord will never go for it!

Answer 9

You like to generalize, don't you?

Answer 10

yeah, and then we'd find somethin else to ***** about.