The video \Affluenza,"" which critiqued, analyzed and outlined the uniquely American obsession with greed, speaks to a disturbing trend. While it was made in 1997, the materials presented in it are still quite pertinent as the American Dream ethos and dogma are pervasive in nature.
The video attempted to ""diagnose"" the health status of the American psyche, and discovered that it is quite sick with materialism. The American Dream-the notion of unlimited prosperity for all, consequence-free-is as much a part of the American social fabric as any other element of our national consciousness. It has only been over the course of the past 20 years that we have been able to secure an almost unmitigated, uninhibited pursuit of these ever-present material desires.
There are periods of flux, with an inevitable ebb and flow to the American economy and consequently American demands for goods. It happened first in the 1920s after an era of industrial revolution led to an unparalleled spending spree. That all came crashing down in the 1930s, and after a briefly successful period, the U.S. engaged in a decade-long series of wars on foreign soil, bringing both hardship and progress as U.S. companies profited mightily from war expenditures. Women and minorities began to penetrate the sphere of previously white male dominated business.
The 1950s, was a period of great prosperity and general happiness. After decades of suffering, America was in a mood to celebrate. The '60s and '70s saw protest and progress the likes of which an affluent society can afford to finance, and the '80s brought a period of unprecedented spending and glamour.
After all that, our national consciousness is in a crisis. We can afford, for the most part, everything we desire. We can afford it, that is, if we sacrifice free time and meaningful relationships, and are willing to incur a tremendous amount of debt. That is the status we find ourselves in the still-new millennium, and we've yet to come to terms with the problem of affluence.
It's an expectation, a sort of ever-expanding measuring stick the likes of which the Joneses can't even keep up with. Along with increased outputs, efficiency and wages comes increased expectations. If we can have a bigger house and a boat, why not go for it? Previous generations had to struggle to get by, and when they prospered, they did so as a result of those struggles and those sacrifices. We have not had to deal with a major war or any extreme economic trouble the likes of which previous generations were forced to grow up in and cope with.
That affects our understandings of what the ""good life"" is, and it effects our ability to pursue material ends because we've got nothing better to fight than the battle of the bulge. Terrorism presents a threat in a sense, but nothing akin to continent v. continent with millions of troops, all-encompassing world war the likes of which the 1940s saw. The Sept. 11 attacks may have shaken our moral moorings, but it did not sever them. We have come to believe we can survive, and even prosper, in the face of such adversity.
As a result, it will take much soul searching and self-reflection before America can come to terms with its image obsession. A meaningful change in ethos is undoubtedly needed. We need to learn to strike the right balance between greed and poverty; or what Aristotle called the ""virtuous mean."" We must, as individuals, come to that realization and make those tough decisions. It is not a question of a national consciousness so much as one of individual recognition. We can't have everything we want all the time at no consequence to ourselves or to our future. We must realize the considerable detriment our actions cause, and that on some level we already have done so. Once we link the void in our personal satisfaction levels, the hollow nature of our relationships, and the wanton degradation of the poor to our spending and consuming habits, all one can hope for is that America will come around. America is definitely sick; and unfortunately the prescription is a bitter pill to swallow.
Bob Probst is a senior majoring in political science, legal studies and integrated liberal studies.
