These factors coming together have had the result of making Americans very consumer driven. The thirst to have a few odds and ends to make life simpler–a toaster, a microwave, and so on–was met with an explosion of marketable products that could be shipped quickly across the nation. And with the ability to reach larger and larger audiences through such things as television commercials, one could make even a trifle (that once would have never sold well, due to limited appeal in a local area) profitable. Over time, as necessities are met with increasing ease, the focus shifted from necessities to time-saving devices, and then to recreation as we continually managed to accomplish more in less time.

While I cannot deny that we Americans are overly consumption-driven, one question I might ask (and one I don’t necessarily have an answer to) is: how necessary is the materialism? I might argue that to some extent, we can’t do away with it without committing grave errors as well (cutting off our noses to spite our faces). As necessities are met with fewer and fewer workers (think of how large farms are, and how few people are needed to work them), is it not the case that employment comes from non-essentials? Consider how many people work in fast food and restaurants. Consider how many people work in other areas that provide luxuries that most people take for granted, and yet could easily live without.

I think it is possible to live amidst all this excess without letting it deteriorate the soul, but then, there is the whole camel and eye-of-needle thing. It is a problem, but at times I wonder if we haven’t entered into a mess where the cure is worse than the problem.