You are going to hate me, hipmatt, but I don’t know if criticizing America is going to solve anything in terms of averting World War 3. Concerning American consumerism, I hate to say it, but it is purely a function of human nature. Most people, in general, want to improve their future condition…whatever that may be. Simply put, they want to get better. That’s why capitalism works better than most other economical systems-it rewards ingenuity and hard work, two items that are essential to improving one’s situation.

It has often been implied that Americans are just a bunch of lazy consumers. I do not agree with this. I think that we are more competitive and entreprenurial than most other nations as a whole and that’s why we are successful. Don’t be misled by media propaganda, many other nations are currently partaking in many of the same consumeristic activities that we are…or they are striving to get to that point. I’ve been to Switzerland and Italy and I saw a lot of people driving large Mercedes sedans or SUVs. Sure, there were a lot of smaller cars in relation to what we see here in SoCal, but I think that might be more a function of the higher gas prices and the small city roads there. You don’t think that people in China and India are striving to make a better life for themselves by acquiring personal wealth?

Purchasing things like granite countertops is an investment in one’s property…it is meant to add value. Just like a city that installs concrete curbs and sidewalks rather than just keeping it as dirt. They are investments that serve a purpose and add value.

Now purchasing an SUV in this day and age is, IMHO, a poor investment and I wouldn’t personally do it. The only time I have a problem with people that own SUVs is when they think they are special and try to bully their way around on the road or take up 2 parking spots.