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Affluenza

Affluenza: A Product of the American Dream
Wait….what is Affluenza? Don't you mean Influenza? Well no, actually many people haven't heard of the disease known as Affluenza. It's more common than you might think. In fact there is a good chance that you might be showing some symptoms of the disease; many Americans are. Everywhere you look you get bombarded by the promoter of this evil. Affluenza has been described as an epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by dogged pursuit of the American Dream.(wikipedia.com) It is, in a sense, synonymous with the American Dream but with an added intensity. We have taken the pursuit of happiness to another level. Many now are not satisfied with their current commodities and feel as if "more is better." This new interpretation of the American Dream may end up being the downfall of our society, economy, and eventually environment. We now have a new epidemic on our hands; the need for bigger, better, nicer, and pricier. In this vigorous chase for economic success many are left feeling unfulfilled, and wishing for yet more wealth.
"There will presently be no room in the world for things; it will be filled up with the advertisements of things." (affluenza.org). We live in a commercial culture where we are constantly being attacked by advertisements. As you walk down the street you see buses spammed with 10 foot long ads. If you turn on the television you can fully expect to see a flood of commercials and as you flip the page in your local newspaper you will likely find more ads than you will news. Everywhere you look you are told to consume more, and if you don't you will be left behind. It is difficult not to give into the temptations of material goods, but as many of us have been told "money is not the key to happiness." Affluenza is becoming more rampant and needs to be deterred by learning to live a more simple life. Although living a simple life may be difficult it can be a creative and...