Affluenza: Rampant consumerism erodes us

[LaurenG]

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Beware the Affluenza Virus. An epidemic of mindless consumerism is sweeping the world with the compulsive pursuit of money and possessions making people richer but sadder.

That is the stark warning issued by best-selling British psychologist Oliver James after a "mind tour" of seven countries chronicling how depression envelopes the affluent.

"We have become addicted to having rather than being and confusing our needs with our wants," he told Reuters in an interview to mark publication on Thursday of "Affluenza."

Globe-trotting from New York to Sydney, Singapore and Shanghai via Copenhagen, Moscow and Auckland, he concluded after interviewing 240 people that "selfish capitalism" has run riot.


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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070125/hl_nm/rampant_consumerism_dc

[C_U_L8R]

1. Everytime I see a Hummer

I want to yack.

Republican avarice is so passé.

[LaurenG]

2. I was happy to see that he feels it's at a turning point

We really need to "get a life" and enjoy each other rather than things.

[stellanoir]

3. I've several random thoughts about this.

Fundamentally it's unsustainable.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. PBS show on this topic about 10 years ago. Recommended.

http://www.pbs.org/kcts/affluenza/

[Theres-a]

5. Thanks!

I saw it then,but will watch again.

[no_hypocrisy]

6. And there is a book that goes with the program. Check Amazon.

You're welcome.

[DemReadingDU]

9. I think I saw this show

Affluenza is not a new term. Thanks for the website, I will add the book to my reading list.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Couldn't agree more to both 'selfish capitalism' and 'addicted to having' are destroying the entire

world!

[RedEarth]

8. I couldn't agree more..........

[Jcrowley]

10. K&R n/t

[Celebration]

11. nobody caught the irony?

"Globe-trotting from New York to Sydney, Singapore and Shanghai via Copenhagen, Moscow and Auckland"

Agree with the premise. Anyway, everyone in the USA would be diagnosed with depression if it were up to the pharmaceutical companies.

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. Well done, well done.

And Republicans are people who believe the world owes them a lifestyle, and your child has to go fight and secure it for them, so the sooner we cure affluenza, the sooner we'll cure the epidemic amnesia that controls this country's political misfortunes.

[Jim Warren]

13. There are two worlds in this regard

A rich world of maybe one billion and a poor world of 5.5 billion. Just try telling the poor world they can't have what the rich world has.