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NY, another interesting post....
It is interesting to read the opinions of others outside of US, that have observed this economically-challlenged country.
I believe the average Joe in our country is so inundated with consumerism via the media from an early age, they grow up in the belief that keeping up with the 'neighbors,' in materialism is the way of the American Dream.
It's rather ironic for me to make such a statement; I wasn't raised in consumerism. We toiled and saved and made old things shiny & new, took care of what we had, passing things on from generation to generation and were taught to appreciate and savor every morsel as a blessing.
I was married to a man from Central America who came into the US at an early age to accomplish the American Dream. I admired the way he took what most American's take for granted and was financially successful, but because he was raised in a country that had no industry, most things we take for granted such as electronics, were highly exhaulted in his country. Although I admired him for his ability to accomplish the American dream financially, his upbringing and cultural background also made him highly materialistic.
There is corporate American and then there are those of us on the backroads who still live very simply, close to nature and value family, relationships and spiritual growth above materialism. Thank you for writing your observation.
posted by
roadscross
on November 16, 2006 at 12:21 PM
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Interesting post!
posted by
blagging
on November 14, 2006 at 7:12 AM
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I heard of a book the other day called
Shopportunity, just recently released, where the author makes a very similar point. She noted that people go to stores like Wal-Mart and Target specifically to brag about the bargains they got, rather than judging whether or not what they actually bought was a high-quality purchase. Sure, you can get a great bargain on shoes, but if they don't last, you could end up spending more money than if you'd actually invested a little more initially in a high-quality pair of shoes that lasts a long time.
posted by
kidnykid
on November 14, 2006 at 7:08 AM
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