We become indebted in order to consume because we are convinced that our utility schedule is more important than someone else’s. If I see a beautiful piece of jewelry or a bright new car in a shop, I am convinced that it should be mine, and that it can be more usefully employed in my possession than in someone else’s.
消费主义依赖于极端的个人主义论调。为了消费，我们债务缠身，因为我们深信自己的物品清单比起别人的更重要。如果我在商店里看见一件美丽的珠宝或是一辆锃亮的新车，我确信它应该是我的，而且在我拥有之下它会比在别人拥有之下更好地发挥作用。如此这般，贪婪源于一种骄傲或是自尊。