Consumerism and Materialism in America Essay -- possesive, arrogant, s

The economy is a very fragile thing; however it can have an enormous impact on people. Americans especially are affected because they are so greedy, they always want more. Because Americans are very materialistic, they can become overly arrogant and possessive since they are used to getting their way, on account of having money. Some people are never satisfied with what they have; they are always on the lookout for more money and more possessions. Man requires food, shelter, clothing and fuel everything else is superfluous. Luxuries lead to things like materialism and greed. People need to realize that everyone is the same on the inside. Our ancestors didn’t have technology or a ton of money and they somehow survived. â€Å"For the improvement of ages have had but little influence on the essential laws of man’s existence; as our skeletons, probably, are not to be distinguished from those of our ancestors†. (Thoreau) Thoreau knew what most people today don’t, that we are all the same no matter how much money we have. Greediness can lead to negative characteristics such as gluttony and wastefulness. Our time on Earth is very limited; we do not have time to waste on materialism and greediness. We must focus on improving ourselves and our country. In Thoreau’s Economy, he compares greedy humans to being cooked because they are heated by their unnecessary materials. â€Å"The luxuriously rich are not simply kept comfortably warm, but unnaturally hot; as I implied before, they are cooked, of course à   la mode.† (Thoreau). People are constantly striving to have more than what they have. â€Å"...the need to ‘keep up’ have long been part of American culture.† (Schor) The need to have the newest and latest gadgets is very strong in Americans. Produc... ...position. Bedford/St. Martin's, 1991. 421-430. Gailbraith, John Kenneth. "The Dependence Effect." Renee H. Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Dissin Aufses. The Language of Composition. Bedford/St.Martin's, 1958. 478-481. Rose, Phyllis. "Shopping and Other Spiritual Adventures in America Today." Renee H. Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Dissin Aufses. The Language of Composition. Bedford/St. Martin's, 1984. 482-484. Schor, Juliet. "The New Consumerism." Renee H. Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Dissin Aufses. The Language of Compositon. Bedford/St. Martin's, 1999. 487-489. Smith, Joan. "Shop-Happy." Renee H. Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Dissin Aufses. The Language of Composition. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000. 490-494. Thoreau, Henry David. "Economy." Renee H. Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Dissin Aufses. The Language of Composition. Bedford/St. Martin's, 1854. 474-477.