Achoo, I Think I Have Affluenza
Income Inequality Series — Part 2
As with most situations, the overview of income inequality is not purely black and white. You cannot simply point a finger at CEO’s (though that might seem like the easiest method).
There are many different factors in play that must fully be considered, and so because of my previous post (Minding The Gap), I’ve decided to start a series that examines some of the various influences.
A while back I read a book titled Affluenza, and it was a terrific, enlightening book.
The book provided this definition:
“affluenza, n. a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more.[1]”
A google search provided this definition:
“affleunza, n. a psychological malaise supposedly affecting wealthy young people, symptoms of which include a lack of motivation, feelings of guilt, and a sense of isolation[2].”
Whenever I think of affluenza I immediately remember this commercial…
The commercial was really funny, until you actually started to think of relevant the “I’m in debt up to my eyeballs” was.
How common is that to hear someone is in debt? Specifically in credit card debt? Now before anyone gets fiesty, I am in no way talking about people with student loan debt. I’m referring to those who feel like need a 72" plasma flat screen tv, or they must have the newest iPhone (fun fact: I’m still rocking the 3GS and it’s still kickin’).
Sometimes life feels like a constant race to keep up with the Jones’.
I get emails daily about how Gap, or Old Navy, or ModCloth is having a sale. As a dress-obsessed girl it’s very hard to see those emails and not immediately stock up.
But no matter how many dresses, or iPads, or whatever makes “your world go round”, no matter how much you get you ARE NEVER satisfied.
And cue Mick Jagger.
So maybe people in America are trying to achieve a happiness that will never exist? At least not through material items.
Going further, maybe even possibly people in America think they are entitled to certain possessions?
As of January 2014 the average credit card debt per household was over $15,000, which is actually a decrease since an extreme high in January of ‘09 ($19,000)[3].Credit cards always amazed me. I never could comprehend why you would buy something that you didn’t actually have the money for. Where’s the joy in working hard towards saving a certain amount of money, and then being able to pay in full? I promise you that it’s a great feeling.
There’s a “I want it now” mentality these days, but maybe that’s a topic for a different blog post.
The sad part is that consumption has increased 50% since 1957, but people aren’t any happier[4]. Rich people aren’t any happier, and poor people aren’t happy either. Nobody is happy, apparently.
Maybe because they’re looking for happiness in the wrong place.
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John 10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly”
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Interesting article about Affleunza: http://www.newworldeconomics.com/archives/2013/121513.html
Sources:
[1]Affluenza, The All-Consuming Epidemic Second Edition. John DeGraaf, David Wann, Thomas H. Naylor
[2]https://www.google.com/#q=define:+affluenza
[3]http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/credit-card-data/average-credit-card-debt-household/
[4]https://www.pbs.org/kcts/affluenza/show/joe2.html
