The American Dream is making many of us sick, whether we are aware of it or not.  One group of filmmakers has diagnosed the infection as a condition they call affluenza.  Their film “Affluenza” is a production of KCTS/Seattle and Oregon Public Broadcasting.  “Affluenza” is hosted by National Public Radio's Scott Simon and was produced by John de Graaf and Vivia Boe, (some of the same filmmakers have also recently published a book by the same name).  Their definition of affluenza is “1. The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses. 2. An epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by dogged pursuit of the American Dream. 3. An unsustainable addiction to economic growth.” 

© Salahub 2003