by Mark Waybill

Created on: December 22, 2009

Saying teenagers are materialistic is a big generalization. Not all are, and many people who are not teenagers are materialistic. However many do aspire to be like the celebrities and members of the 'in' crowd hey admire and look up to, and these 'followers' are often materialistic in their endeavors and aspirations.

Materialistic goals are not all wasteful, gluttonous and decadent. The pursuit of wealth, for instance, whilst not an act of bodily or 'spiritual' cleansing, is necessary for most people these days, and one who aspires to be wealthy should be forgiven, as after all if we have no money we are not in the best of conditions, putting aside our morally abiding nature.

For however upstanding we may be, money, clothes, shelter, food etc are all necessary items. To say otherwise, and that we should all live in some socialist utopia is idealistic. Material possessions that are luxuries, that are unnecessary, however, are different. Whilst they serve a social purpose and a mental purpose, and are useful for various reasons, they are unnecessary and wasteful.

Much of the money invested in many unnecessary areas could be better spent increasing living standards and supporting those less fortunate individuals within society. But sadly decadent expenditure by the wealthy is a thing to stay. Rather than spend their money (whether gotten by hard work or inheritance) on worthy causes they waste it on extravagant, unnecessary and decadent expenditures which serve society by a pathetic amount when they could serve it far worthier.

It is not surprising then that society has so many problems when one considers how much of the scant resources of our plane are wasted on unnecessary decadence for the minority wealthy class. Materialism itself is not an issue, of course, except to those of a religious nature who perceive it as an enemy to their beloved nature. Of course as any rational individual knows, nature has hardly been very generous or even fair to us, so why worship its savage state?

Materialism becomes an issue when decadence and gluttony are considered. Think of how many Americans drive expensive cars, eat prodigious amounts of food, and waste money on fashionable articles of clothing that are unlikely to last a year before fraying. And to think these resources could be spent on much worthier things like putting an end to the outdated class heirarchy of society, and providing equality and a higher standard of living for all. But as long as fashion, gluttony and decadent lifestyles are had by the wealthy minority, these problems are likely to continue haunting society.

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