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Stuff Is Not Salvation Analysis

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In Anna Quindlen’s essay, Stuff is Not Salvation, she argues that one cannot determine how “better off” they are, by the amount of belongings they possess. Quindlen states that Americans have, “an addiction to consumption, so out of control that it qualifies as a sickness.” However, she is not just referring to an addiction to buying meaningless items, but the idea that people are purchasing items when they have no money. Quindlen validates her argument with the tragedy of a walmart employee that as trampled to death on Black Friday, and the concept that many people have lost their sense of appreciation and gratefulness. She also argues that there are indeed things we need, however, a large majority of people’s perception of want and need are obscured. …show more content…

No purchase at the local Walmart can validate who we are, or what may happen to us. For decades before this one, people have thrived and enjoyed everyday, without the urge to binge shop for the latest hot buy. Only lately has the accessibility to more superstores and online shopping allow people to acquire things that aren't imperative. I strongly believe that the root of this issue is embedded in social media and advertisements. With the number of people connected to social media, the influence through all ages of people is inevitable.Friends and family also play a significant role in the compulsion to buy useless objects. In fact, I don't know a day when i’m at school and I don’t hear “Hey! Samantha! You should totally get one of these!”. Another astonishing aspect; debt. Quindlen mentions that, “Today, Americans are overwhelmed by debt and the national savings rate is calculated, like an algebra equation, in negatives. By 2010 Americans will be a trillion dollars in the hole on credit-card debt

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