SHOPPING AND FLOPPING

"Today we are more wealthy and less happy. I don't really know why, but I think it is to do with the loss of optimism. We no longer believe that things can change... What we have seen is... the defeat of politics by shopping." -- Andrew Marr, talking about the post-war years, in relation to his A History of Modern Britain.

"All we ever want is more,
A lot more than we had before.
So take me to the nearest store." -- Shania Twain, Ker-Ching

Two thousand years ago, in Palestine, a rich young man, was invited by an itinerant preacher to sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor and to seek the kingdom of heaven. He chose not to and we are told he 'went away sad, for he had many possessions'. So the burden of riches is not new. It is James’ contention that this 'sadness', fostered by rampant capitalism, is no longer the privilege of a few but can grip whole societies." -- Francis Philips on Oliver James' Affluenza.