I will admit only with grim resignation that I live in one of America's wealthiest counties.  I detest the fact that teenagers with newly acquired licenses are driving expensive, gas-guzzling autos, and when I traverse the streets of the town (in a most decidedly older car), any drive is ruined by the sight of literal mansions, with some pathetic little saplings in the yard, dwarfed by the house they stand in front of, yearning to make their contribution to the ozone layer.

At least they're contributing to something.

You see, I have no problem with a dollar-centric society.  In fact, I believe in quite the opposite, as capitalism and globalization can truly benefit the international community, when carried out in an altruistic fashion.  What irks me is the ill-use, or, in many more cases, the complete disuse, of many people's money.

When Hurricane Katrina ruined thousands of lives, we were moved by the disaster, but how many of us actually made a generous contribution to the relief effort?  We were more appalled with the fact that the displaced and homeless were looting local stores than willing to give up our next trip to the spa so the poor souls wouldn't have to steal to eat.  Or, in the case of many a deranged and uninformed teenager (and probably more than several adults), we thought that, "it was their fault, anyway."  Yes, it was their fault, because any average human being can control Mother Nature...

I don't care that America is fat.  I don't care that we are stupid.  I care that we don't care.  Find some philanthropy deep down inside those cholesterol coated hearts, ladies and gents, and you could make someone's life a whole helluva lot better.