I’m sure, if you are like me, you’ve read more than a few articles about whether money buys happiness. I happened to read the latest version on Newsweek. I particularly liked their comments on each consumer being trained to want more and earn more. It is true that our economy thrives on increased growth and production. Anyway, here’s a quote from the article that I liked:
“If more money doesn’t buy more happiness, then the behavior of most Americans looks downright insane, as we work harder and longer, decade after decade, to fatten our W-2s. But what is insane for an individual is crucial for a national economy—that is, ever more growth and consumption. Gilbert again: “Economies can blossom and grow only if people are deluded into believing that the production of wealth will make them happy … Economies thrive when individuals strive, but because individuals will strive only for their own happiness, it is essential that they mistakenly believe that producing and consuming are routes to personal well-being.”
So, next time you pull some equity out of your house and buy a new 96″ flat screen TV for your wall, just remember. It’s not as much for you as it is for the rest of us.