These small stores promoted the community. The community breaks apart and people begin isolating themselves, living in gated communities. They lose touch of community and strive only to better themselves.
After everything people buy, they still are not complete. There is a longing for something they cannot fulfill. They are longing for meaning which can only be fulfilled by giving back to the community, environment, country, etc. If people had the time to volunteer and give back, their lives would be richer and more gratifying. This does not happen and people give their time to further their economic status.
The gap between the rich and the poor is continually growing. The poor pay twice because of less medical care, worse living conditions, and less education. They are still trying to make it and keep up with the Joneses by buying and consuming as much as their budgets will allow. If this rate of consumption and production of goods continues, it will drain our global resources. The effects can already be seen in our environment. Pollution is higher than ever before. A spike in the extinction rate is a result of less resources and the increases level of pollution. .
People can buy as much as they want, but they will never be satisfied. They always want more. They are in a constant search for material happiness, but will inevitably end up dissatisfied. There is a need to look at where affluenza comes from.
Some say the cause of affluenza goes back to the beginning of time with Adam and Eve. Through history, many of the great books and great people, such as the bible and Buddha, have been warning of affluenza. They talk about keeping a simpler life. It has been shown that it is not genetic, however, based on finding people that have never been exposed to it. They showed no signs of affluenza in their community.
There was a major decision to be made, working longer hours, or having more leisure time and less money.
