Posted on 01/25/2007 3:34:11 PM PST by GSlob
LONDON (Reuters Life) - Beware the Affluenza Virus. An epidemic of mindless consumerism is sweeping the world with the compulsive pursuit of money and possessions making people richer but sadder. That is the stark warning issued by best-selling British psychologist Oliver James after a "mind tour" of seven countries chronicling how depression envelopes the affluent...
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Yes, much better to be poor. Taxes can solve that nicely.
And depressed, probably. Think of his expense account for the trip.
But he did get his frequent flier mileage.
Well, it's a free country.
You can make as much money as you like and not spend any of it, if that's what you want.
Let's compare:
A couple who gets a huge loan to buy a big house, and fill it with all kinds of crap and spend the next 30-40 years to pay for it,
versus
A couple who buys a modest home with 15-year loan, choose what they buy based on necessity, works hard to pay off their mortgage and retires early.
From our government's point of view, couple #1 will spend more, consume more, work longer, and generate more tax revenue.
Couple #2, from our government's point of view, is unpatriotic for choosing a minimalist lifestyle and therefore generate far less tax income for Uncle Sam. Traitors!
There are some good reasons why our government doesn't discourage rampant consumerism. HA.
You can mock it, but there is truth to this. People are so busy chasing stuff they don't really need, that it sucks the meaning out of life. I lost count of the number of couples I've met who have forsaken having children so they can buy a BMW or Lexus.
100% right.
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