Lately, I've heard, the old expression "Keeping up with the Joneses" has been replaced by "Keeping up with the Gateses." Apparently, it's no longer enough to want to match your neighbor's lifestyle. Now people want to live like Bill and Melinda Gates.
It probably goes without saying that the desire to emulate the rich and famous is fueled by images in the media—in film, on television, and in glossy magazines. The wealthiest members of society so often appear to be having the time of their lives, wearing elegant clothes, driving expensive cars, and living in lavish homes.
But the desire to acquire similar possessions can come with a dark side, like the crushing levels of credit card debt that so many of today's consumers have amassed. And, more often than not, the promise of happiness in accumulating material objects is never fulfilled. Instead, people find that the more they have, the more they want.
