Richer, Fatter but not Happier

[pippin]

"consumption by the wealthy elites, and increasingly among the middle class as well, has gone beyond satisfying needs to become an end in its own right. . .consumption is not in itself bad. But it (Worldwatch) says: "Higher levels of obesity and personal debt, chronic time shortages, and a degraded environment are all signs that excessive consumption is diminishing the quality of life for many people.

The US has more private vehicles on the road than people licensed to drive them. New houses in the US were 38% bigger in 2000 than in 1975, although average household size had fallen.

Yet only about a third of Americans described themselves as "very happy", the same share as in 1957 when US citizens were just half as wealthy. "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3380387

[kalian]

1. So, what's new...?

:shrug:

This has been fact for the past 10 years...

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. From an Australian comic on BBC radio last night

"I figured out why Americans are so fat. In 1985, British and Irish popstars sang a song saying "Feed the World". In 1986, American popstars sang "We Are the World" ..."

[Frederic Bastiat]

3. Americans need nutrition education n/t

[INTELBYTES]

4. You can't really be happy without a strong spiritual life.

All else is just a way to fill an empty void.