Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Money, Money, Money

Please answer the follwing prompts in a detailed, fluent response. Make sure to comment on other people's views within your own response. Take your level of thinking higher.

What are your perceptions of material wealth? What is "wealth"? Do we see too much excess today? If your financial status a reflection of how successful you are? Are we always wanting more? Do we "want" too much? Is being content or fulfilled enough? When is enough enough?

26 comments:

RebeccaT said...

My perception on material wealth is that it has it's ups and downs. The "ups" are that when someone is wealthy, most of the time, they are more willing to put money back into the economy, or give back to the society. By this I mean that they will spend more money on materials and that money will help the economy prosper. There are even some wealthy that will give to charity, or homeless shelters. Though there is a "down" that comes out of this. How much will the wealthy put into the economy or give back? They will only give back as much as so it doesn't "hurt" them. Another "down" is that some wealthy don't even give back to the community for others they do it for there social status. I believe that "wealth" has to do with money. If you say you are a "wealthy person", you're making enough to spend things not only on what you need, but also what you want. And because most people today are semi-wealthy, more people can buy the things they want and therefore put money back into the economy. So I feel that we have enough excess. I do not think that your financial status is a reflection of your success or how successful you are. I think that success has to do with your happiness, and if you enjoy waking up everyday and love doing what you do. I feel that it is human nature to want more, because of competition. Its the idea that "I want more because that person has more". Due to this competition, we will always want more, therefore at some point we can be content, but I dont think that we will ever be completely fulfilled.

HannahG said...

To me, material wealth is nothing more than something to show off and brag about to others. Pool tables, expensive cars and $1,000 shirts are all nice things to own, but when it comes down to the bare necessities none of those even matter. What matters is if your car can actually get you from point A to point B and not the kind of stero system it has. Wealth to me is being able to afford all of these expensive, but impractical luxeries. Wealth is measured by how much money you make, and not what kind of person you are. Wealth doesn't necessarily imply happiness, but it does allow you to live a comfortable and extravegent lifestyle because of your salary. I think the emphasis on how important wealth is in our society is becoming way too big. People are so concerned with how much money everyone makes, and what kind of car everyone drives and where everybody buys all the designer clothes. Our society is far more interested with luxery, money and personal possessions rather than if we are actually happy or not. We mistake the ability to buy these things as happiness, when really money can only get you so far in life. I believe in our society's point of view, having more money suggests that you are obviously more successful in life, rather than the homeless man sitting on the street. In my opinion, success is defined by how happy and content you are with your life and yourself, not how much your salary can buy you. Our society has gotten to the point where nothing is ever enough. No matter how much we buy and recieve, we are never satisfied with how much we have. We are taught to always strive for more because that's part of the American Dream. Being able to have as much as you want when you want it is something everybody dreams about. We are to the point where we want so much that we are extremely greedy people. Not doing enough giving and instead taking as much as possible has gotten us into a very selfish cycle where we are always wanting and needing, and doing anything to get whatever that may be. I think as long as someone is content, they should be happy with whatever they have. Being content is feeling that no matter what, you're a happy person. That may mean living in a million dollar mansion, or on the corner of 16th street mall. It doesn't matter how much you make or what exactly you spend it on, but as long as you're happy with your decisions because ultimately you're going to have to be the one to live with them.

A.Lepry said...

I think wealth becomes a bad thing if you get rich before you're happy. I think you need to expierence life, see what truley makes you happy, and find what your passionate about before money should play a major role in your life. For example, Operah knows what it was like bieng poor and living a rough life, so now she uses her money to help others. In turn, people who have had money all their lives (Paris Hilton, cough, cough) don't quite know what they want out of life, except for more money because that is the only thing they've ever known. But I think when we say people who are rich are bais and self-centered is unfair and ignorant on our part because many of them worked hard for it. I won't lie; I hope I'm wealthy when I grow up because I know I can use it to impact my society and people who are worse off than me. But I think we sound just as bais as those "snotty" millionares to say rich people are always materialistic and shallow. Some of them are, yes but we act just the same when we are constantly bashing them. Everyone in this world is different in their own way and I think thats what makes life interesting.

AdrienneB2009 said...

I can't say material wealth is a bad thing because even I'll admit ocassionally I enjoy shopping for no reason...it's comforting sometimes.
I agree with Anna that wealth can distort your perspective if you obtain it before you are happy however, don't some people need wealth before we can be happy?
Financial status does not reflect successfulness because some people modestly turn down higher paying promotions that require them to transfer etc. because they don't want to move their whole family.
Americans especially consume, consume, consume. We are always wanting more. Even though I buy things I don't need, I balance it by donating/ recycling things I can't use anymore.
Being fufilled through happiness is enough for some but others think they need wealth to be happy.

Anonymous said...

Material wealth is a way for people to judge your success through how much or how little you have. The people that have the money and materials will most often want to keep it all to themselves and buy only for themselves. The people that have little or no money will want what the rich have and beg for it but end up being rejected for not originally not having any money to begin with. The middle class is who give money to the needy because they have a better perspective of what having no money looks like. Wealth is an idea generated by any given society usually based on what the rich people have and have the bar set at or a bit lower of what is “in”. This is to make people spend money on the more expensive products to get more money in the economy but that only gets the rich richer and the poor poorer. It is human nature to want a little more then what we get and to want even more if we get that little extra bit. This also reflects on the social class the person comes from usually in a richer environment they get more and better material possessions then someone of a lower class. Being content or fulfilled in something is always a temporary emotion because a newer and better product comes out and then the feeling towards the previous product is of rejection until the person buys the newer product then the cycle starts over again.

Matt D. said...

I think that material wealth can be good, but it can be overdone. I think that everyone is materialistic even if they don't think that they are because almost everyone has a cell phone or an ipod, or something that means something to them that they dont actually need. I think that wealth is measured by money and success, but also by how happy you are. some people might not have a lot of money, but they didn't end up in jail or prison, so they think that they are wealthy. I think that wealth is measured differently by every person. I think that most poeple want too much, but it is different in the times that we live in, because there is so much material things and new technology. I think that financial stauts is a reflection in some ways. Most people will judge you on where you live and what kind of car you drive, but it doesn't really matter if you think that your successful and you are happy, then it doesn't matter what they think. I think that most people do want more and people think like what if i had this nice car, or a nicer house.

Amanda G said...

My preception of material wealth is that it can a bad thing but also at time it could be a good thing. It can be good because you need certain materialistic things to be successful in society. Material wealth is good because if you are wealthy and have materialistic things then you could be considered wealthy. Material wealth could also be bad because if you are wealthy you could let all of it go to your head and ultamiately become a different person. But I also agree with Adrienne and enjoy shopping sometimes. I dont think wealth can have one definition. Wealth is different for everyone. My defintion of wealth would be different than someone elses defintion. I dont think your financial status is a reflection of how successful you are. You are successful if you are happy with what you have and want nothing in your life to change. You could be the poorest person and not have a lot but still be happy and still consider yourself successful. This might sound corny but in the movie Titantic there was a lady who had nothing and all she had was her jewlery and she still thought of herself as successful and lived everyday with a smile. Yes, we are always wanting more I think. People come up with new things to sell that appeal to people which inturn make us want more things even if we dont need them. I do think we want to much. We always want stuff but dont need what we want. In my opinion I thinkg being content or fulfilled is enough because you are happy or content with what you have and you dont need anything else. Enough is enough when you are happy with what you have and dont need anything else. You may want something but you dont need it.

la-rue a said...

A popular perception on material wealth is a person owning many overrated and overpriced possessions. Expencies cookingware, pool table, home theatre systems, custom shirts and costumes, and fast/ large/ gasoline sucking vehicles. Lets say a "cadillac" for instance, is material no one actually needs however some find these items cool and luxurious which for even fewer demand a level of respect. I for one say are you an experienced driver and are you civil enough to earn respect. However some don't look at the downside to this, what if these particular items go bad, break, get damaged, or excusively keyed. The showing of become oh my god what happened, or along the line of wtf!!!!!!!!!! To a more broad subject of Wealth is another word that doesn't exist because it is a term that discribe virtue of moral to individual of principle.
In one situation Wealth is described as the ease of money usage and capacity to whom can use it and the other the emotion capacity a family or a number of people have for an admirable passion. The only difference is how one is brought up psycologically which imposes on his dission making and how he chooses to act upon stroking himself if one gets the meaning (lie to oneself and never face reality or ever have to use logic). Today the younger generation is exposed to too much excess bs because of continuous comicials of cartoon networks and extravogant equipment in interestin movies. In today's age money is a two way mirror that a person may see himself in which ever way he/she wishes while the man is behind the other side laughing, judging, and stroking himself/herself with amusement. In the capitalistic system most not all the lower and middle class want more because the knowledge that other people are living better than they increases want, which again doesn't exist but if you've been paying attention you should know why, but the upper class don't want anything because they already have what the other wants or something better that the other doesn't know of yet because the rich can not cunsume what society has made them worth. What the next generation is learning is enough can not reach enough but content is the principle some don't understand and underestimate if someone reads this to write their comment I challenge you to prove me wrong. Adios!

Kaitlyn H. said...

Material wealth is simply having the most expensive car in the dealership and owning the biggest house in the neighbohood. Material wealth isnt a bad thing but when getting more money and more things becomes the main thought and families and friends get neglected, then I dont see it as a good thing.I think wealth is more than just having a lot of money, its also having valuble things. Even if we do see too much wealth today what does it matter? As long as the rich arnt hurting anyone or doing anything wrong who cares if they have more money. If you have what you need in life and are happy who cares if someone owns more expensive things. No, my financial status does NOT reflect how successful I am. I have no money, im negative $39 in the bank but im still so successful because I have improved my grades a lot more this year and have a better chance at getting into a beter collge, who cares if I cant go on a shopping spree because I dont have money, at least I have an education. Of course we are always wanting more, its human nature. What sucks is that we cant always get what we want or even more at that. Sometimes always wanting more can be a good thing to drive someone to do something better, and sometimes it can really get to someone and it can ruin relationships and life at that. I dont think everyone wants too much but there are people that do and will do anything to get what they want. Being content or fulfilled is definitly enough! I love being in amazing moods but just being content is a better feeling because everything seems perfect. Enough is enough whenever you choose everything is alright and you need nothing more. It depeneds on the person you are to decide whether you need everything and nothing is ever good enough...or having the things in life that are needed and work properly.

Alyssa B. said...

Material wealth is an intricate part of the American Dream. My initial reaction was that it was one of the easiest aspects to understand because it is universally definable. A dollar is a dollar in Kentucky or in New York. I diamond ring’s monetary value remains the same regardless of social standing. Whereas success or happiness can vary by the individual and is subjective, money is a constant that maintains its worth regardless of its holder.
However, I must question the validity of that statement.
Is money’s value also relative? Can it not be defined by the individual? For example, five dollars would be of less value to a billionaire compared with a homeless person. Therefore, wealth is perceived as whatever amount of money satisfies the individual, is it not? I say yes.
I agree with Kaitlyn’s statement “Even if we do see too much wealth today what does it matter?” America certainly is home to excessiveness. However, if you got it, flaunt it; no? Since I argue that wealth is proportional to the individual, then excess is as well. Personally, I see no need to spend 60,000 dollars on a dress and view those that do as mentally unsound (unless it’s a fireproof, waterproof, crushproof dress that can protect against a nuclear attack, change color on command, and includes a jetpack.. while still looking good.) But that’s just me. If someone needs to display their wealth in order to feel secure and successful they can go ahead – one less vice I have to deal with.
I define success as the achievement of personal goals. Therefore financial status can be a reflection of success if the individual’s goal was to raise their financial status. It isn’t always though, many people set different goals then becoming wealthy.
However, the word “reflection” caught me. Since reflection implies how the rest of society views success then financial status could reflect on how successful and individual is perceived, but I don’t not believe it accurately defines success.
It is human nature to want what we can’t have, to desire more. Perhaps it’s a basic survival instinct, but people always will strive for more.
I believe the desire and competition for more breeds progress. I don’t think we want too much. I do believe, however, that it is possible to allow the quest for more to destroy what is already there. As long as an individual doesn’t sacrifice one value for the pursuit or “more” then it is natural and healthy. However, if an individual becomes obsessive and neglects the rest of life, then it is detrimental to that individual and society.
I think fulfillment and contentment are two different things. It is very healthy to be fulfilled and happy with life. I think that is what success stems from – the fulfillment of goals. However, I don’t think anyone should ever be 100% content – mankind should always strive to improve life in general. If someone is happy with their life, they should try to make someone else’s better. If we are never fully content and keep trying to improve, then the world will change for the better.

Chris F said...

material wealth is sometimes over done in modern society. If you have money you should save it or invest in the stock market or put it into bonds to increase your wealth. you don't have to put all of your money in material things to show that you have money. well wealth is an over thought thing in the world today. wealth is not what you have in things, its what you have in your wallet and can put towards your kid future or a nice trip that you wnat to take when you feel like it is time for that trip. i think that we always want more that what we have because it is a challenge and we are driven by challenges. Well there is never enough in the world and that is that!

Unknown said...

Wealth is being happy the way you are and the way you feel. yes there are thoes magizines that show how much people make and i think those are making people work harder the be able to buy more things. no how sucessful you are is in your eyes because you know what you have to make and need to live on. yes we wnat more always want somthing faster stronger and better. no we just buy to much. no because theres always foom to grow. enough is when you dont have the want for anything else.

Spencer B said...

My perception on material wealth is objects that I own. These objects help me to improve my overall quality of life. Wealth is a gauge that determines our overall worth in dollar amounts. If a person's wealthy they have the means to purchase not only what they need but what they want. I agree that we see too much excess, waste is everywhere. People waste food, they waste gasoline, and money on unnecessary items. One example might be living in a mansion where only two people live. Is This Mansion really necessary? people waste on a daily basis. Our society reflects positively on those most fortunate, but i don't think someone is unsuccessful if they don't make a lot of money. We constantly want more. I know this first hand because I want more all the time. It seems people can never be satisfied with just one thing, they always are looking for something bigger or better. I believe that each individual is different and depending on the person their personal views on contentment can vary greatly. I don't enough is ever enough, it's human nature to want to discover more, which means enough is never enough. As Rebecca said we can really never be completly fulfilled.

GracyB said...

I think that material wealth can be good and bad at the same time. I think that there are so many people that have way too many things, and they don’t even know what to do with themselves. Being materialistic is just when someone judges you for the car you drive or the cloths you wear. They have to have a certain brand name or it’s not good enough. As long as I have something to wear and something that will run and be able to take me places, then I'm happy. I think sometimes we stereotype people that are really rich with being snobby or conceded. Yes, some are, but I was driving yesterday and I heard an interview with the 3rd riches man in America. He said that he hates that people are so caught up in this material world. He said that it's not fair that his secretary is paying more taxes then him, and he has trillions of dollars. So I think sometimes people are quick to judge when it comes to the “wealthy”. I think wealth is hard to define. When I think of "wealth" I imagine big houses, fancy cars, and stores I would never even step foot in. When you look around, there are so many big houses now and it seems like actors and athletes have more money then they know what to do with. Then, I walk downtown and I see people playing a guitar on the street corner who have only the cloths they have on. I don’t think that our financial status has a reflection on how successful we are. I think that someone could be the richest man in the world, and not necessarily be successful, and there could be a man who works at Burger King and he would say he's successful. I think that success is just based on how happy we are and content we are with what we do. To me, being content is enough. I think sometimes we constantly are looking for more, but why can’t we just be happy with what we have?

Zach N said...

My perception of material wealth is owning what everybody else around you has and trying to become that person that can one-up everybody else with something that they buy. Whenever I think of material wealth it makes me think of the saying, “Keeping up with the Jones’s.” This saying basically meant that everyone was competing in order to have the most expensive material possessions in order to show their superiority and higher financial status over all of their neighbors. I think that wealth is a mixture of money, possessions, family and happiness. You can be wealthy in all of these things and they are all important aspects of our lives. I do think that many Americans overuse their wealth in money and then accumulate too many possessions and things that they don’t really need when they could be donating that money to much more needy causes and put the money to better use. I agree with Chris in saying that people spend too much of their money instead of saving it and using their money to make money. This is a very important aspect to having money and provides financial security, which is very important in today’s economy. I still think that today your financial status is a reflection of how successful you are because people are constantly placed into classes of rich and well-off or middle class or even poor and then those people are defined by which class they are placed in which can often be unfair. In today’s society I don’t think that anybody is ever content anymore because they look at others and see what others have and are always wanting that as well but there are also the people that have so much money that they don’t know what to do with it so they just keep on buying more and more adding to everyone’s greed.

Rachel_F said...

Material wealth is simply that the number of materials and the cost of the materials is all that the wealth is. Wealth to some is in money wealth to others is in the values and more emotional instead of worldly context. In today's view of things there really seems to NEVER be enough. If we think we are content with what we have something else materialistic shows up in the news or more likely the internet. This will show more things that we will want even if we really don't need it. It is almost inevitable to always want more. Hence, "the grass is always greener..." statement that is so commonly portrayed.
I think that financial status only shows your financial success not necessarily your unworldly contentment and success. If you are successful, still alive, still living to a comfortable extent. Then, all that money will show or add is a more leisurely life style and a better pay or even wiser spending. You don’t have to “make bank” to have lots of money if you are wise in your spending.
As an American we do want way too much, all of us. Even the little “hippie” people that just want peace. There is almost no way that will ever happen people are too selfish in nature along with being to greedy and never being happy with what we have. There is to be said about the idea, but, it is not possible. We will always want even when we have no more. When we are out of all of our recourses, when we have used up and discarded or trashed everything there is with a value, we will find a way to attempt to fill that with something else.

LoraineF said...

For me personally, material wealth is completely evil, but our world would crash without it. Material wealth has taught us to be selfish and lazy, and ruin anything real we had left to appreciate. Wealth alone on the other hand, can be categorized to be anything someone wants it to be. Someone can be wealthy with happiness and love, and that is enough and content for them. That’s why I believe financial status has nothing to do with how successful you are. Of course we are always wanting more, but that has nothing to do with our personal successes and our happiness. We always want more, and sometime to much because that’s how our generations have been raised. That issue is completely different from that of fulfillment. For me enough is enough when I am healthy and happy, nothing else matters. That’s why I couldn’t agree more with Hannah Goldsmiths response. Money and wealth is something to show off, whereas real success comes from the heart.

Margaux L said...

My perception of material wealth i guess would have to be the things people own and the price tag set on those objects. I don't really believe that your financial wealth is a reflection of how successful you are because success is in the eye of the beholder. For some yes being wealthy equals success but for other success equals happiness. Just because you are successful doesn't mean your wealthy and just because your wealthy doesn't necessarily mean your successful. This is another question where it really differs from person to person. Our society is always wanting more and i think many people are very greedy and will do anything for material wealth. I believe we do want to much and if you really think about it, its all in your head. Just because they put a number on something does that really mean its better than something else. I think it depends on the beholder once again on the question is being content or fulfilled enough. I believe that its not enough, just because you have what you want material wise doesn't mean you happy i don't think just being content is enough. In our society enough is never really enough so many people are always wanting more and more and don't know when it is enough. For me enough should be when your truly happy and at a good place in your life.

Paul D. said...

My personal thought of material wealth is when one acquires large quantities; it can poison the mind. Wealth is the idea of someone who has enough money to help them the rest of their life. People see to much Hollywood Wealth of having ridiculous amounts of money and having the thought you are invincible. Your financial status is not a reflection of how successful you are, because if someone has felt they raised the greatest kids, or lived the most full filing life, they are the most successful in the end. When we all die none of the possessions we have today are going to be with us, only the memories and heritage one has left behind makes them successful in life.

Tara.G said...

I personally think that wealth has its good sides and its bad sides. Being wealthy isn't always going to be a bad thing. I think that if people take advantage of their wealth and change the person who they are for that wealth then it becomes a bad thing in life. I also believe that people should work hard for their wealth. It isn't fair that pro athletes are getting paid millions and millions to play a sport that they love to do. This isn't fair because there are people doing things to change the world out there for their jobs that aren't getting paid jack. It can be a good thing if people know how to budget and not become a "cocky" person from the power of wealth. Our society is a very materialistic society. All we do is strive to want more and more. I don't think that people are satisfied ever with what they have. We do want, want, want and it's not fair to think about considering there are people in this world that have a hard life but all we do is want rather than give. Financial status doesn't reflect successfulness in any way. I believe that if you are something as simple as just being happy; that is a success itself. Some people are happy with life in general, but then you get those who all they want is more. Wealth is the number one thing in peoples lives which is sick. I think that living life to its fullest and enjoying as much as you can brings happiness. Not the wealth in life.

Phil E. said...

Material wealth was original prominent when capitalism was created with the industrial revolution. It used to just be the way to survive and buy food and clothes. Now it has become the obsession of America. All that teens care about is buying the new "thing". Through this obsession with materialism the human race has lost the perception of the important things in life. We only have about 100 years to live and that time should not be wasted on obsessing about materialism. Now I am not going to lie, I like getting new "things" and it is not a problem. This really only becomes a problem when slight materialism turns into materialistic obsession. However then again in the society we live in the economy depends on our consuming things. So we need to buy and spend. The key is to buy and spend but also value love family and the passions. I think hannah g makes a good point in saying that material wealth is just to brag to others. I would agree and a "keeping up with the Joneses mentality is a huge part in my society.

McKenzieM said...

I think material wealth can turn a good person into someone they hate. This can happen if they lose sight of what they believe in and their personal expectations. But at the same time I think material wealth can be a good thing when someone appreciates their wealth and uses it reasonably. I think good wealth is when you have certain items that are of great value to you not because they are worth a lot of money, but because they make you happy or mean something to you. I think personal wealth is much greater than material wealth. Many people would say that your financial status reflects your success, but I believe differently. I think that it’s nice to have good financial status so you can remain stabile in your life, not to waste it on over-the-top items. Sometimes, I’ll admit, I do want more, but not more material things. For example, sometimes I want more of a person in the sense that I want to be around them more because they make me feel good or happy. Also, when I do want material things, it’s because of something I love. I don’t want material good just for the sake of wanting them or have them just for the sake of having them. It can cause greed. I would say our society is greedy because we do always want more or something new. Our society will never be satisfied as long as the world keeps changing. It’s human nature. I think being content and fulfilled is enough for some people, but not for others. Some people will never be satisfied while others will always be content. That’s never going to change. Honestly, I think enough will never be enough because there is always something new.

Natalie H. said...

Wealth should not be so materialistic. How many nice things you have should not reflect your wealth. Sometimes enough is enough. Too many people spend to much on themselves when they could be helping others. Yes, humans are naturally always wanting more, but riches are not everything. Happiness is much more fulfilling than a mansion. As long as an individual is successful at their job, has goals and are happy to be alive each and every day then they are rich. I believe that one's health is the greatest wealth you could obtain. Being content and happy inside is absolutely enough. Those who are just handed everything and don't have the experience of earning what they get, are usually NOT happy. They are bored with their nonexistent accomplishments and may even start spending money on stupid things when they could be helping others! Americans are motivated by money all the time. However, many are motivated to work hard for their family so they can give to their children or even give to charity. Others, are motivated by their job for the wrong reason. You should love what you do regardless of the pay. Otherwise life just isn't even fun. Those are people who care so much about money that they have sacrificed their happiness and therefore in my eyes, have failed. Overly obsessed with money is no way to live, it is miserable, because you really are never content. You will always want more.

Liz S. said...

My perception of material wealth is the more and bigger the better. The more money you have and the bigger house or better car you have makes you more wealthy material wise. I completely agree with Tyler, material wealth is just ground for judgment based on the amount of material possessions or the quality of those possessions someone has. A majority of the world today is materialistic because of the pressure of society and of other people in the world. If everyone just had what they needed to survive then there wouldn’t be a need for material wealth.
My definition of wealth is having a large quantity of something that makes you happy. For most people that is money or things that are bought by using money, for others it is happiness or love. Someone can be considered wealthy if they are constantly in a state of feeling loved and feeling happy. They are wealthy in life. Others may not consider themselves wealthy unless they are rich or have expensive things.
I don’t think a person’s financial status is a reflection of success. If someone goes from being addicted to drugs to going to rehab and not having that addiction anymore, then that is success. Their financial status didn’t change but their life did. When someone’s life changes then that is success, weather it’s financial or not.
Being content or fulfilled in one aspect of life is not enough for anyone. Our world is all about wanting and needing more. If someone’s happy with their job but not happy about their family life then they want more happiness. Enough will never be enough for us because the world we live and have grown up in is based on constant need for every single thing. I agree with Becca, the reason we always want and need more is because at least one person in the world has more than us; therefore, we want more in order to beat them in some sort of internal competition.

jake R said...

I think there are many different types of wealth. Two main types of wealth are knowledge and Money and “stuff”. The sad part about are society is today, wealth is money. Doesn’t matter how you got it. You have money, you are wealthy and successful. A person can wealthy and successful with a middle class job. A house, a car, a job…whatever. Truthfully, people take for granted the things they have. I think most people do ask for too much. Success and wealth should be judged on health and happiness. If a person has family or friends and lives a happy life, they are wealthy. If a person has lived a long life and has their health, they are wealthy. Today’s standards are just different. People don’t respect life like they should and they take things for granted. Which in a way, people can get consumed with greed.

Emily F said...

Life does not revolve around wealth. Many people catoragize people by how much money they have, but it is so much more then showing off a fast car and a huge house. Wealth doesn't necessarily imply happiness but it simply allows you to live a lifestyle others may not. Our society is far more interested with money and materials rather than if we are actually happy or not. However, success is not measured by wealth. Many people may judge success depending on how rich a person is but it is so much more than that. Success is dependent on happiness and achieving goals. Enough is never enough. People will always want what they can't have. American's today are so greedy and no one will ever be completely fullfilled.