D, seriously though, what you don't get is that that is not culture. It's not American culture that is infecting you. It's simply a rampant consumerism. It's one of the unfortunate side effect that come from living in a succesful capitalist economy where your needs are satisfied to the point where your baser desires start coming out to the forefront.
There is nothing inherantly American about it, and it's not culture. Many people in America object to it as much as you do. They attempt to remove as much of that junk from their life and live in a simpler, more "natural" way.
I believe it's called "minimalism". Although you know what that is don't you? It's in your web page banner.
Geoschmo
[ May 15, 2003, 12:06: Message edited by: geoschmo ]