Pop culture aids in public self-destruction

by Schuyler Clark, staff writer

I find that it is pretty interesting to simply sit back and observe the people around you, as well as those in the media and common American idols in the world of music of  music and politics.

People’s actions say more about their true motivations and values than anything. This is shown by their interests in material things and how far they are willing to go to protect their "treasure." 

There are a variety of perspectives of success throughout America, and they all come out differently when it comes to the definition.  Some people view success as a big two-story house, along with a massive television and other various "necessities", along with a gas-guzzling Denali, even though they might have only two children. But that is based on something way before this couple's generation.  It has been this way for a good 60-70 years, America lusting after everything the next person has, or endorses on T.V. The lengths to which some people will go for the sole purpose of ensuring their "right" to be included with the "upper class" is amazing.

I find it ridiculous that every day there is just another big-time executive going down for embezzling the company’s funds, or yet another homicide about something mundane as a bank account.  Every day, there are more bankruptcies and credit card fraud, plummeting many into a downward spiral of debt to pay for these "necessities."

Like I said before, the media helps in no way in deviating the public from this self-destructive habit, or should I say, addiction?  Spending money that we don't have has become a major factor in our country’s slumping economy.  It's not like this is a new thing. Nobody would face up to the cold, hard fact that this would catch up to us someday. That someday is today, ladies and gentlemen. 

Big-time celebrities who get paid ludicrous amounts of money set the bar for success in this day and time, which means they have a horrible advantage over the common man.  Rap stars are mostly all about the flashy tokens of status, with lots of girls and 20 cars. So it's only natural that is what a good majority of America strives for.  Rock legends since Led Zeppelin have been contributing by not caring how much money they spent on trashing hotels, having mansions and fast cars, making every teenager, even into adulthood, long after the eternal party of being "rich," ignoring the possible consequences while fantasizing about how they will look in their friend's eyes.

So this raises the question, "Can Americans be trusted with their own financial business?" This leads me to believe that some time in the near future there will probably be such a thing as financial probation, resulting in a federal-run, check-keeping business, with the irresponsible ones having to report expenditures and withdrawals.  I don't know if I would still be in the United States if that were to happen. 

Still, there are others who are happy with a house suitable for their family, making just enough to get by. That is, if they break even.  Satisfied with a happy family and a close social network, these people are willing to give their last $10 to you if you really need it. These people are getting fewer and farther between, and I think that is pretty sad.             Greed has taken over, resulting in the few generous and kind people not being able to count on giving others money because they have been taken advantage of so many times already. Children are raised to respect the power of the, “almighty,” dollar at a very early age.  

With gas prices climbing steadily, the dollar becomes even more valuable to those with little, and becomes more and more worth clinging to.  Americans are among the most stressed out people on Earth, and it is because they overextend their capable reach financially. Then they have to struggle, stress and pinch to afford it all.  This is madness.

All in all, it just depends on one's perspective and how one grew up in the world.  It isn't done very often, but every once in a while it is healthy to truly take a look at domestic problems and try to determine the possible causes and solutions.