Is American Society Too Materialistic? (At Issue)

By: Ronald D. Lankford

Book Overview

Debates over materialism have occupied Americans since the nation's founding. Today, Americans contemplate the effects of consumption on their children, the environment, and the mental and physical... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0737733969
• ISBN13: 9780737733969
• Release Date: July 2006
• Publisher: Greenhaven Press
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.0" x 6.0"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

excess materialism: bad, good, and what to do

Given the current credit-crunch and the problems that led to, and resulted from, it, we may all think we have heard it all. Not quite; and this collection of 15 well-written and balanced essays is a welcome addition. I recommend it highly. Here are some interesting snippets from it. Consumer debt in the USA has sharply increased, and it was rising even in 2000/2001 when the economy began to slow down noticeably. By 2004 debt per household (excluding mortgage) was about $19,000 of which nearly $10,000 or $736 billion nationwide was credit card debt. In contrast to debt, the saving rate was only one-fifth of a percent. The consequence is rampant bankruptcy and now ever-increasing foreclosures. One of the first essays argues that material consumerism is responsible for rising debt. Behind consumerism is "institutionalized overconsumption," which has become America's "national identity". This identity generates enormous ecological and psychological costs on society. As one essayist puts it "scratch the surface of the economic boon [and] you see a grotesque epidemic of desires and greed" (p.13). The problem, concludes the same essayist, is that "A strong materialist orientation has been associated with diminished life satisfaction, impaired self-esteem, dissatisfaction with friendship and leisure activities, and a predisposition to depression" (p.16). Thus, there is a need for a simplified life, and that means getting rid of the clutter before it becomes a trap that "forces Americans to work longer hours to acquire items they have no need for" (p.27). Getting rid of clutter is changing overspending habits. As a counterpoint, another essayist argues that the desire for materials is really a good thing; it is the basis of a healthy economy. A healthy and growing economy means "less work", "more play", and other conveniences of the economies of scope (variety). To this point, another essayist adds that consumerism motivates the search for luxury, which motivates people to work harder. This too makes for a good society in which people are "defined by the items they purchase [and not] by the color of their skin or their gender" (p.32). In this sense, "the luxury creep" is to be preferred to many social welfare programs. How did Americans become so consumeristic? "Corporate marketing," answers one essayist. Corporations corrupt kids into overconsumers, and it is the government's role to "create a parents" bill of rights that empowers parents to protect their children from unscrupulous advertisers" (p. 41). The strife for conveniences and luxury threats human life. However, other essays say: (a) parents are responsible for their children's choices; not government, and (b) the damage to society by consumerism is a media overstatement. In fact, buying leads to happiness, and happiness is a catalyst for change. Often consumerism implies wealth; wealth is power, and for some teens, power confers a sense of belonging and self-identity. In general, most essa