If newspaper headlines are any indication, the economic crisis is the only topic worth talking about. Gaza and the Super Bowl get their time in the sun here and there, but for the most part everyone is talking about everyone’s favorite topic: money. Thankfully it seems we’re spending a little less time rehashing who is to blame for the current state of affairs and are focused on how to get out of it.

The stimulus package currently on the Senate floor has many elements. It includes tax incentives for home buyers, lower mortgage rates, and billions of dollars on infrastructure spending. None of these things is set in stone of course, as the bill is still under debate, but the golden combination that seems to be preferred by politicians and economists is stimulating infrastructure and the housing market. The other piece of the pie is tax breaks to “working families” (whatever that means). There are dozens of proposed tax breaks, each with a vehemently passionate economist behind it. But the common thread running between all the various ideas is: how do we get the people to spend?

It’s an odd idea, in this country. When have the American people not spent? For better or worse, consumerism defines us as a nation perhaps better than any other concept. In the land that invented malls and McDonald’s, the real American dream seems to be to get more. The well-oiled advertising machine assures that we deserve the big screen TV at the same time that it makes sure we realize that what we have is never enough. More people visit the Mall of America annually than the Grand Canyon, the Smithsonian, and the Statue of Liberty combined. Americans spend hours on the internet every day, and the ubiquity of online shopping now means we need never be far from that coveted pair of shoes. And in addition to all that online time, the average American watches 4.5 hours of TV per day, and that includes over an hour of commercials.

I’m proud to be an American, but these things disturb me. I am certainly not immune to the allure of either a big screen TV or a fierce pair of heels, but the acquisition of goods is not a cornerstone of my existence and never will be. I am more concerned with my time, and how I spend it: with my loved ones, in places which revive me, and doing things which fulfill me. Of course, I am not the only one with these values, and they are not safe from the advertising behemoth either (just look at Hallmark commercials and tourism ads). Be it goods or services, advertisers want you to consume endlessly and voraciously, at the expense of everything else.

I don’t believe that advertisers are inherently evil, that the existence of the credit card is the root of all our problems, or that capitalism should die. What makes me sad is that so many people choose less-fulfilling lifestyles in order to buy more. Or as one unknown sage said: “you work a job you hate, to buy stuff you don’t need, to impress people you don’t like.” Keeping up with the Joneses is a national pastime, and folks will do just about anything to get the newest, fastest, shiniest, hippest product. And yet—despite sacrifices made for such purchases, there doesn’t seem to be any direct correlation between happiness and the amount of “stuff” a person has.

As omnipresent as the voice of consumerism is, the anti-consumerism culture is growing. More people are becoming concerned with the environmental impact of our consumption culture, and others simply can’t afford to spend so much. Campaigns such as Ad Busters and Kill Your Television promote a lifestyle focused on family, community, and personal fulfillment. Environmentally focused groups educate people on how to consume less as reducing one’s carbon footprint becomes a mainstream ambition. It actually seems like anti-consumerism may be on the rise, and it’s not just for hippies anymore.

So where does that leave us, in the current economic climate? Personal consumption makes up 70% of our economy. While it will take a lot to get the economy going again, it seems like it will be virtually impossible without increased spending. This is of course why the government is carefully crafting its tax cuts to inspire people to spend, not save. If there is one thing this country doesn’t need, it’s sound financial decisions on the part of the masses.

On the one hand, this seems like a perfect opportunity to stick it to The Man. “Oh yeah, you want me to spend that tax rebate? Well too bad for you, mega-conglomerate! I’m going to put it in savings and see if I care if you don’t get your Christmas bonus.” Unfortunately, it is not just The Man who gets short shifted by this thinking. We’ve been seeing for months the results of a crumbling retail industry. Thousands of jobs have been lost, and more announcements of more layoffs seem to come daily. This on top of the fiasco that is Wall Street and the worthless housing market has sent this country into an economic tailspin.

In addition to a massive unemployment rate, the dark side of an economy in crisis is a huge cutback in public spending. We all know that the arts, libraries, parks, and museums are the first programs to get the ax. So it seems the irony is that the very things that serve as alternatives to consumerism, the things that nourish us and keep us healthy in body and mind, are the first casualties of a drought in consumption.

It is the horrific nature of a country without these things that cause me to, for the first time in my life, call upon my fellow Americans to go out and spend some money. After all, it is not the products themselves which are the problem, but the place they hold in our lives. I believe that if you appreciate and enjoy your material wealth, but ultimately value it less than people, places, and activities, then happiness can always be yours whether you are flush or strapped for cash. So by all means, eschew television and orchestrate your plan for overthrowing Big Bad Business. But just for fun, go ahead and buy those shoes, just because you want to.