There is a poll out that is reported in the article on the link at the end of this post that finds that children are damaged by materialism. The analysis is that when children cannot wear the latest fashions that it lowers there self image causing irreparable harm. The odd thing about this study is not it findings. We have all wanted something in our childhood that we could not afford and can recall how bad that makes us feel just to recall that prized item. What is odd is that some one took the time, spent the money, and polled people on this question. What is odd is that anyone bothered to answer the poll. They must have been paid to answer, thus giving the pollee more money to buy something. What will be the next poll for these daring scientist? That "many men find women attractive and think about them much of the time" or that "many addictions are bad?" I do not care what kind of utopian fairytale land you want to create, if you include people in that land, you are going to have people that value things and don't always get them. While I may be way out there for some of you, I have since considered my "harmful" experience a life lesson about saving and being careful about what you spend your money on. As the Rolling Stones told us decades ago "You don't always get what you want, but if you try, sometimes you get what you need."
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080226103117.duhctnsx&show_article=1
