As is true for most Americans and likely most people in a late-stage capitalist society, during childhood I developed an unquenchable desire for more. This isn’t a characteristic explicitly taught, but one that is both partially innate and evident enough in others that it can be nurtured by companies for profit and imitated by children to acquire normality. Big is better than small, tall is better than short, new is better than old, more is better than less. This view is so pervasive and rarely challenged primarily because our economy depends on it. As long as people want more, they will work more to earn more to buy more so that more can be produced and the wealthy can become wealthier and we can maintain our happy little status quo. For this reason, materialism is our religion. In those times that others might pray, we buy. In those times that others might seek enlightenment, we seek the nearest Starbucks. Things make us happy. Things define us. Things fill the gaping voids in our souls and in our lives.

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