Those who said that it was "very important or essential to develop a meaningful philosophy in life" were 71% in 1967, but only 31% by 1998. Those who said that it was "very important or essential to be very well off financially" were 30% in 1967, but up to 70% by 1998. The two goals intersected each other in the late 1970's and have finally reached a complete reversal. This has all happened during my lifetime and sadly, this study only confirmed what I already suspected. As a culture, we have become increasingly driven to make more money, own more stuff. We have sold off our quality of life and ransomed our future, and for what--a new SUV and a cell phone?

I don't think that capitalism is an inherently evil system. However, when I am bombarded by advertisements for prescription drugs on TV and in magazines, and later I hear on the news that one of the reasons for the dramatic rise in prescription drug costs is that the drug companies are now spending so many billions of dollars on advertising--I seriously want to pack my bags and get the hell out.  

© Salahub 2003