The Virtues of Materialism

I've never understood that argument that somehow the economy is separate from those of us who live in it. If Americans decided to spend more time with their kids or do more volunteering and spent less time in the paid workforce, we'd be better off. The economy is what we want it to be to a large extent. And if Americans decide it, as to some extent we have to work less and have a smaller economy than we otherwise would, that'd be just fine.