Western culture is saddled as "evil consumers" but get real - if Africa or Madagascar had access to big box stores they would be buying blenders too. It is an innate human trait to collect items and build the biggest and best 'nest' possible. Impressing other humans and advancing in prestige general rests on this display of 'stuff' - general misery is applied to having less stuff. Indeed when we look at "how bad things are" in 3rd world countries it is usually couched in the language of, "those poor bastards have less stuff" - - possibly because in the first world we really don't 'get' going hungry.

Oddly enough although the drive for sex and food is widely recognized and discussed I've not really seen anything actively address the need for such oddly over the top nest building and nest tending. We're just like bower birds really - here in the US your nest means a great deal about who you are as a person. We expect movie stars to have amazing nests. Often people will have such big and elaborate nests that they cannot use every room or all their stuff in a single day.

How do we get people over the need for such expansive nest building? The only way to conquer an action is to replace it with a new one.

My personal idea is to extend communities and have a wealth sharing. So that my community has shared bicycles, shared recreational type items and the pride of 'home' becomes pride of neighborhood.

That's just my idea though -- I want to hear yours!

good basic article: http://www.globalissues.org/issue/235/c ... onsumerism

Consumering is not bad as just that. But it is how it is being used and the negative effects it is having on the planet and people. From a small nation sized plastic mess floating in the ocean. To people who live only to shop. etc

Then we have awhole society that is based nothing but money which is a (*&*^&@$# joke on so many levels.But creates a social/political climate of jackals. Wars and so much more.

I think part of the problem with trying to get people to be happy without the lavish nonsense that we feel we "need" is that nobody has any experience with that, whatsoever. We all live our whole lives in an environment of consumerism. All we know is big houses and tons of stuff.

People who have given up consumerism and decided to live a minimalist lifestyle almost always seem to find it liberating and fulfilling. Not many feel like they've lost anything.

I honestly think the way to live a more minimalist lifestyle is to do it yourself, let them see that it is an appealing way to live.

It's interesting that to stay at a socially acceptable level of wealth that people are willing to sacrifice raising their kids, time off, vacations,spirituality and health.

Middle class these days requires obedience to an almost impossible set of circumstances

Housing is lopsided -- the main source of housing now is from banks and does not match proportionally in any sort of way income (for most of the US). So although for my family we earn an upper middle class salary there is no way we can afford anything other then the worst tenement housing - yet the same income level (upper middle class) would have afforded us almost any house of our choosing if this was 30 years ago.

My friend claims that as soon as the baby boomers start dying en-mass there will be more housing opening up and prices will drop. Possibly. It's a changing world - we have too many people and nothing for them to do. We have them endlessly push paper to give many something to do...but it has no real meaning.

I really think the media and pop culture is the main culprit behind the consumerism of America. They constantly show you people living these lavish lifestyles of fortune and fame, telling everyone this is what you want, this is the way to live and anything else isn't the American dream. I beg to differ. We are bombarded by commercials glorifying the newest and most high tech gadgetry that by the way "everyone should have" and will "make your life better". We get these messages repetitively pounded into our brains until after a while you buy into it. I think another part of the problem is that in today's society, self gratification is championed over serving each other, and we are shown that the way to that gratification is as Seven said "To collect all this stuff". It's all apart of symbolism.

Think about it. Why do you buy that $250,000 Ferrari? Because of the status that comes with owning it. Why do you go out and buy the biggest HD-Blu-ray-LCD-3D, microwave/dishwasher/transformer television? Because it is a status symbol. With that status becoming more and more glamorized opposed to maybe just pursuing your dreams whether they make you rich or not the problem worsens. Also It seems to be almost a motivational reward system. If you are willing to give up everything else in your life to acquire this kind of money, you might not have a life, any real friends, a very good personality, or much character, but by God you've got a Supercar, a house in the Hamptons, and you're an "A" list party goer so who cares about all that.

It's like dangling a carrot on a stick in front of a rabbit saying "If you come this way look at the big tasty carrot that awaits you for your pursuit" The only problem is that the ones holding the carrots don't pass them around very much, and their not willing to tell you that it's actually pretty unrealistic that you can attain that level of income. But, it keeps you working and contributing to our economy in pursuit of the new American dream; to have as much instant gratification, self indulgence, and vanity as possible around you at all times. Forget religion, forget ethics, morals, or values. Embrace materialism and consumerism, subscribe to whatever makes you the buzz of whatever click, and don't say what you really think or feel because if it's against what "THEY" say, you are to be ostracized from "The Club" and you just aren't fit to be "Upper-Class". I think the truth is that most of the "Upper Class" are a bunch of LOW CLASS idiots.

They've sacrificed more for their money than they will ever know in this lifetime and I'm not talking about the hard work to get there but the personal compromises one often makes to achieve riches. Are you willing to compromise what you believe, think, or feel for more money? Are you willing to sell your soul basically so you can have that supercar? or that lavish house? I'm not. My riches are stored in heaven, and one day I will inherit them after the long hard journey that is life in this surreal world.

I have a good example of pointless consumerism - the Dishwasher.

After being rather silly for years and painfully washing everything "pre-rinse" and artfully loading the dishwasher and then unloading it, I finally worked out the time allotment and realized that the dishwasher caused me to spend A LOT more time doing dishes (and painful effort) then if I simply said - "after supper, wash your dish, dry it and put it away." Then all I have to wash is a pan or two and DONE. Whole kitchen is finished.

Additionally because I live in apartments dishwashers make good homes for pests, trapping food, water and giving them living quarters.

I spend 2-4 hours a day in my kitchen cooking (I cook all our meals) so it's good to have the dish washing demon under control.

It really is a whole lot faster to wash by hand.

Here's something you guys might find interesting. This guy's name is Jay Schafer and he's basically done away with all the lavishness and gotten rid of anything he doesn't need, including the extra space in his house. He designs and lives in tiny houses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJLSoUkh1Vs

I live part of my time out doors and hate cleaning so we opted for a super tiny apartment - less then 1,000 square feet for four people. Although it's tiny and ghetto we have to spend almost a $1,000 per month in rent. When we rent a house next year that will go up to about $1,600. I remember when I first earned 1,600 per month and I thought I was rich. ;-P Most jobs here only pay $10-$12 per hour so there are a lot of homeless.