Do you think our American culture's obsession with success and wealth has brought us alot of sadness too?

Question

I feel that we are a very hard working society, perhaps one of the hardest working on the planet. And I do think that it's a great thing because look at all the advances we have made in science, medicine, law, etc. But are we also making ourselves an unhappy people putting value on success and wealth above all else? Not all of us do, but it seems like we live in a society that tells us the greatest people are the ones with the highest level jobs at their companies and we step all over each other's toes to get there. When I drive to work sometimes other commuters swerve around me and give me an angry look because I wasn't going fast enough. Do you think we would be kinder to each other if we weren't all in such a rush to get to our jobs and make the almighty dollar? Sure, maybe people are just running late but do we have to be so mean to each other? I know we all need money to live, but I think the pursuit of too much of it can make us very unhappy in the long run. Your thoughts?

Good answers so far. I wanted to add a detail that wouldn't fit in my original question. The reason I asked this about our culture is because I have lived somewhere else where people seemed to be happier. When I lived in Puerto Rico, people were never in a hurry to get anywhere. There are not as many corporate jobs there. Even though it is a US territory there is less of a pursuit of money because there is less opportunity. But the people there have such a happy quality of life that is hard to describe to someone who hasn't experienced it. No one gets mad at a slower driver, in fact sometimes the car ahead of you will stop to talk to a friend on the street and no one behing them gets mad. On Sundays when you go to the mall, you see more happy families out together enjoying each other's company, rather than teenagers hanging out by themselves because parents are off pursuing there own interests. I wish we could have more of that here.

Answer 1

I would compltety agree with you on this. In our quest to have it all, the best job, our children in the best schools, our children in the best clothes, we should belong to the right organizations and groups. Our values have become so much of what others think and see us as, the sucessful and rich one. Well, in the long run our children really only want our love, attention, time and nuturing. And this is what is leading to the children being deliquent, having anger issues. And the parents are absent but giving of material things, working themsevles to death to have the house in the suburbs, with the car in the driveway. And who is enjoying these things they are working so hard to have. The children alone with their friends, left to their own devices, while the wife is having affairs beacuse her husband is to busy working for the almighty dollar giving himself a heart attack to give her everything. When all they really need are the basics in life to live, alot of love and time together. Life is to short and when you die, i guess everyone will remember you had the best of everything and died trying to get it, and your children resent you becasue they dont even know who you are. Yes it is nice to have very nice things, however, should we kill ourselves in the process, I think not. What is important in my life is the quality of time I spend with my children and the values I instill in them. Be happy and content where you are, I would rather be poor in monatary wealth and rich in love and spirt of family. Howver, most are consumed with what everyone else has, but those who really count (family) are thinking of us. And we are killing ourselves trying to live up to others expectations and desires of what they think we should be. What is the competition all about. Why do we need to impress the neighbors? Who cares, God has given you the life you are to have be blessed, comfortable and confident in where you are. Then he willl increase it when he sees you have learned to be comfortable where you are. And we should feel very blessed those who have family and children this is one of the greatest blessings in the world. We need to slow down and feel the blessing. Thanks for the question. God bless

Answer 2

It's really scary, but the last time I was there, I was astounded.

The cars were really looking unsafe. I mean, there's either brand new SUV's out there or run down old jalopies that look like they're about to fall apart any second, and very few in between.

Gas prices have been astronomical, and the construction...does it ever end?

Americans just don't seem as happy as they used to years ago. Even the commercials on the radio made me turn it off, it was chipping away at our self esteem. I don't know how you all handle it!

It's scary that young girls deprately want to have and get breast augmentations even though there's nothing wrong with them, but life saving surgury cannot be provided to the impoverished.

The middle class is shrinking, and I'm pretty sure they're not all becoming upper class. And when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the world was stunned by the lack of effeciency. We have come to expect from Americans far more, like the earthquake in Pakistan, for example.

Ironically, Canada and Mexico reached out to help and were turned away, and most of the American public is not even aware of this. They feel isolated and alone. All the while Kevin Brown was being praised??!!! Ugh!

The media there launches an attack daily on the American public. I'm not entirely sure why this is tolerated. I hope it stops soon. It really seems like even reality TV encourages Americans to treat each other badly. September 11, 2001 keeps being brought up in poltical debate, meanwhile the Hurricane from last year is carefully omitted from the discussions.

It really stinks to high heaven, but speak out against the War in Iraq, or even the government at all, and get threatened by loyal Americans? No way. That's really scary. You all got guns!

There's only so far intimidation can take you, and I think it's reached its limit in America. What is needed is compassion, cooperation, and unity. My prayers are with Americans, may they find their way and thrive again, and share their ideals with the world.

Answer 3

sounds like u had a bad morning. i could always tell what type of a mood a person is in by the questions they ask.

i agree with u there is an obsession with success and it does make people sad. I have been feeling down lately because i have a bachelors degree in accounting yet i don't hold a job in that field. i never did. i hold a job that u don't even need a college degree. just a high school degree and little knowledge of computers and great customer service skills. i work in a hospital as a patient registration representative.
I get depressed because i feel that all the dr. and nurses and managers have all these college degrees and look at me as someone uneducated. when they find out i am educated they are like why are u working here doing this.

Answer 4

I agree, for the most part There's an old expression that 'work is good for the soul.' And, certainly, that sense of personal pride in providing for oneself or one's family is a great feeling. Being able to afford nice things is also a good feeling.
> I think the problem lies in the false concept that what we DO or EARN defines us - our worth, our potential, our success as a father/mother/provider/human being. When the idea of self-sufficiency becomes tied up in an unbalanced, tangled web of this kind of belief, all kinds of problems result, from health issues, ie: high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers, etc. to mental health issues: stress-related disorders, disassociation from spiritual needs/pursuits.
> Unfortunately, it seems that too many either are very programmed by society's current value system or are possibly completely in agreement.
> I believe, however, that a desire to live a more authentic life is shared by more and more people. Perhaps in the new future, kindness (which validates the sacredness of life) rather than rudeness will be the norm.

Answer 5

I agree. In this culture wealthy, glitz, money, etc is celebrated. We definetely live in excess, and it breeds discontentment. I am guilty of it too, but I am also trying to show my children that sometimes the simple things are most important.

I am teaching them to work hard for what they want, and that they will reap rewards for hard work (most times), but to also understand contentment. If you have a roof over your head, you are eating, and sometimes eating WELL, as well as you have furnishings, clothes, and your bills are not past due, and you may even have enough left over for some luxuries such as recreation, etc..................then you have to be content.

They have seen me leave one job, only to take a shower, get dressed and go right out to another one (I'm a nurse) all in the name of getting more. And after I get it, usually for us......I am so tired that I can't even enjoy it, or enjoy them. So I learned to cut back. To do what I can when I can, but never at the expense of my health, or at the expense of missing out on time with them.

Contentment is a word that we barely know, here in America. Hopefully it is something that more parents are teaching their children, as I am. If not.......with things going the way they are, and times getting harder........we will have an even bigger crime wave because all these 'bling-bling' video watching kids who won't be able to afford these things, will be out in full force to take from those who have it, because they do not. Contentment, and hard work are the names of the game.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

I do believe you are right.

It seems work is now more importaint in America than say family life or even a social life.

Its no good having material things if you have no one to share them with .

Answer 8

greed...one of the seven deadliest sins....but in all seriousness..i think it depends on the person...some people can handle stress and/or success a lot better than other people...yes too much is not good.. but that goes for anything...too much of anything is not good for a person...you have to find a middle way...when you've found that you can truly be happy....or something like that :)

Answer 9

I agree with everything you said. I believe that keeping your life simple is what brings happiness. Doesn't the bible say to be content? Lasting frindships with friends and families are what bring happiness.