What has happened to Americans? Have we all lost our minds and become infatuated with celebrity and sheer greed? Even President Obama felt it necessary to comment
on the accouterments of a wealthy life that are just pure
excess.

I was shocked to read that Jesse Jackson, Jr. will spend 2.5 years in prison for converting campaign funds to his own
use. Who needs a Rolex watch that costs over 43 thousand
dollars and the other items that he and his wife bought
including spending over five thousand dollars on alcohol.
What was he thinking? The transitory pleasure of admiring
one's wrist is not worth jail time.

Are we so insecure that we have things instead of inner
resources? I think that a lust for expensive houses, cars,
boats and vacation homes can never be sated. There has
to come a time when a well balanced person can say,
I have food, clothing, shelter and transportation and that
is ENOUGH!! I would like to see everyone have those
basic needs met.

What kind of message does greed and excess send to our
young people? Will they be willing to lie and cheat in
order have a luxurious life style? The fundamentals of
happiness are love, friends, family and satisfying work.
I hope that children are able to work that out instead of
becoming dazzled by material things most of them will
never have.