What are your thoughts on this??

America is known as a "throw away" society - who's fault is this really? You wouldn't believe the number of things I've had to replace within a year or two because it was made so cheap it broke (telephones, TVs, lawn mowers, DVD players, hair dryers, irons) all EXPENSIVE things that aren't easy to replace. My hubby and I purposely buy the cheaper version of things now. Why? We're going to have to replace them in a year again anyway. And the extended warranties aren't always the best option either. They cost so much, yet so often, the one thing that breaks down coincidentally isn't covered either. So, who's fault is it really that we throw things away too easily?

Here's something else I've wondered about:

I worked in an institution with people who lived all over the world. You'd be surprised at how many people in other countries perceive Americans as all being rich and feeling "entitled." They don't realize how expensive it is to live here and how sad it is that so many women who would love to stay home with their children can't because the cost of living won't allow it. So many Americans are super generous, giving to charities all over the world, wanting to adopt children overseas, giving of their time, etc. Then there's all the taxes we pay, and of course, all the illegal aliens in our country not putting into the system to help defray these costs. I don't understand why we're viewed with such a critical eye and judged so harshly by other countries. Whatever Americans own, they most certainly have sacrificed for.

Sacrificed what and at what costs?

I do believe that Americans (not all, please no one take offense) are spoiled and use to getting what they want now, not later. For that reason I believe so many families have fooled themselves into believing that both parents have to work which puts kids into fulltime daycare which causes guilt and more buying to feed that guilt and make our kids not hate us.

But it all comes back to Americans being materialistic. It's taken for granted that they can run out and buy what they want - most likely with a credit card - just because they want it and not have to save for it or hope that they'll be able to afford it in the future. Simply having a home to live in, food to eat and clothes to wear isn't enough. Houses are getting bigger and bigger, cars are getting bigger and bigger, meals are out of control portion-wise.

So I can honestly understand where other countries get their opinions of us Americans. We have our good points but have our faults as well.

As for products, I agree that nothing seems to be made as well as it use to be. Most seem to be made to wear out in 5-10 years so you have to make that purchase again instead of having it for 20-30 years like our parents did.

If you travel overseas, it really opens your eyes. I remember in '96 I was looking for a new car. I was looking at the Pontiac Sunfire but DH and I decided against it as it was so small -we worried that if we bought a TV or something at best buy it wouldn't fit in the trunk. Then we went to Poland. I swear, the cars were all the size of Chevy Chevettes and they would have 4-5 people in them. Our tour guide told us how they would pile 4 people, all their luggage, and their skis on top for ski trips. Some of the cars there were made of paper mache. Then, one day on the tour, we stopped at a McDonald's for a bathroom stop. In the parking lot, there was one car that was HUGE compared to all the others. It was a Pontiac Sunfire. I could have died. Here I thought that car was 2 small for just the two of us, and it was ENORMOUS compared to most of the family cars there. So, yeah - we've grown very accustomed to plenty and our definition of "need" vs. "want" is very different than most of the world.

Same thing when I was in Morocco and saw their "wonderful new water system". Picture miles of troughs along the road, filled with brown murky water. In some areas, animals are drinking from it. A few feet down, people are filling jugs to take back to their village. A few feet down, children are bathing in it, and people are washing their clothes in it. That was their successful new system so everyone can have water. It's a real eye opener.

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I think the manufacturers are partly to blame. They build shoddy products because in the scheme of things they make more money if the consumer has to replace it more often. Even in the case of cars, they could easily build them to last longer but they purposely don't (planned obsolescense). It's frustrating.

I personally think that in general Americans aren't willing to sacrifice for the things/lifestyle they want. I see a lot of my peers complaining that they can't stay home with their kids due to lack of money, but at the same time they have relatively big houses, cable TV, cell phones, take vacations, etc. Most third world countries would laugh at what we consider "poor."

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I feel like I'm in denial about that stuff. My house needs MAJOR updating so I can't claim that as a reason that I work, but I do have a cell phone adn a car payment. We don't have the latest gadgets, we've never been on the top of new technology. I do feel blessed by the things we DO have when we are fortunate enough to get them.

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~Missy~Mommy
Meghan8.Samantha7,Cameron4

I read a book once, and I can't recall the title, that talked about a different meaning to materialism. One where there is true love and value given to the object itself such that there is no desire to discard and replace it. The book pointed out that Americans really value objects very little; they value the acquisition.

There are some things that I do not pay for the higher quality item, fully intending to repalce it in a year or so. Not many, but some. And it is usually based on my past experience of the item not lasting much longer anyway. I put coffeemakers in that category.

But mostly I try to limit the gadgetry that I own at all. Thet makes life worlds easier and simpler. Instead of a food processor, I love my knives. Instead of a mixer, I love my whisk. Instead of an electric can opener, I love my hand crank. Instead of a dishwasher, I love my sink. Instead of a clothes dryer, I love my line.

I can definitely see why Americans are thought of so poorly overseas. I don't like the attitude of America and materialism. I struggle with it, so I can't say I am not part of the problem, but I stil don't like it.

I agree with what all of you have to say. As a SAHM, and knowing other women who could stay home, but would rather work to buy things, I can see why we would be labeled. However, it is the choice of these women to work and that's their right. For other women, it's not a choice. I know of several women who'd love to stay home, but can't afford their mortgage. They live in very modest homes, in very modest neighborhoods.

Americans do sacrifice to go to work. If others aren't willing to make this sacrifice, terrific, but it's not fair to judge those willing to do it either. I know of one country where workers get 3 months off a year. I would loooove that here! But it's not fair to then turn around and bad-mouth American workers for having more, especially when if they're lucky, they get 3 weeks off a year.

Yes, consumerism is out of control here, but I also see it as jobs for more people. If we all stopped consuming, think of all the jobs that would be lost and how many people would be unemployed.

America in general is a spolied brat.

No one NEEDS a DVD player, or a hair dryer or a TV. These are all WANTS.

Until one recognizes the difference between the two it's a losing battle.

I agree. Americans want too many toys...hence the recession. We can't afford our homes because we had to have a new car, boats, etc. We want more than what we can afford...bottom line.