"Most folks queried by Gallup report that, yes, they would like to be rich. Three in four American students entering college - nearly double the 1970 proportion - now consider it "very important" or "essential" that they become "very well off financially". It's not just collegians. Asked by Roper pollsters to identify what makes "the good life," 38 percent of Americans in 1975, and 63 percent in 1996, chose "a lot of money". Money matters.
- It's the old American dream: life, liberty and the purchase of happiness.
Since 1957, the number of Americans who say they are "very happy" has declined slightly from 35 to 32 percent. Meanwhile, the divorce rate has doubled, the teen suicide rate has more than doubled, the violent crime rate has tripled (even after the recent decline), and more people than ever (especially teens and young adults) are depressed.
More than ever, we have big houses and broken homes, high incomes and low morale, secured rights and diminshed civility. We excel at making a living but often fail at making a life. We celebrate our prosperity but yearn for purpose. We cherish our freedom but long for connection. In an age of plenty, we feel spiritual hunger.
- I call this soaring wealth and shrinking spirit "the American paradox.""
From my 'Exploring Social Psychology'
text book by David G. Myers
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