Consumerism And “The American Dream” Have Destroyed Us

A shift away from values of community, spirituality, and integrity, and toward competition, materialism and disconnection…

The American Dream — an ideal that sets forth the opportunity of prosperity, success, and wealth for everyone. In a time when the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen, the American Dream seems to still be the ethos of Americans as we continue to spend and spend to our detriment. The culture of desire has taken hold, and it’s killing us.

The consumer society emerged in the late 17th century, but began to intensify in the 18th century as the middle class began to grow and spend money on luxury items, not just necessities. Throughout the 18th and into the 19th century, we saw a shift away from traditional rural agriculture families to the urban city as the industrial revolution boomed forward.

More opportunity turned into more money. Railroad construction meant more opportunity and convenience to travel. A whole new world, based in commerce, was taking form. A business and market culture had taken root, pushing traditional family and religious values to the back.

The 20th century saw the rise of the digital age and a more globalized society, pushing ideas and commerce further. More product, more trade, more marketing, more consumption of…