The American Dream..or Should I Say Reality?

As we read and discussed Bemused in America, a few articles about American life vs. European life, I coudn't help but relate a ton of the examples to my own life and my surroundings. In the first article, about the grocery store, I immediatly thought of my mom. Not just in grocery stores, but whenever we go shopping, or I go somewhere to pick something up, she always says: "Go look and see if there is a coupon for it." Even if it is a tiny little coupon that might get a dollar off a purchase, shes all for it! Even store clerks act like that. I was in walgreens the other day buying eyeliner, when one of the employees walked up to me and handed me about 5 diferent sheets of paper - all coupons for eyeliner. Obviously she had seen that I was deciding between a few different brands and wanted to contribute by offering me some coupons she had ripped out o a walgreen's coupon books! It was very generous, but unnessacary at the same time. Another part of the article I enjoyed reading was the one about how much TV Americans watch. Personally, I HATE tv. I have my one show (Gossip Girl) that I watch one hour a week and thats it. Unless I am relaxing, I'll watch a short part of a recorded show, but other than that- nothing. Unlike me, my siblings are ALL ABOUT TV! If they have one free second, theyre in front of the TV. I always tell them its stupid and their wasting their time, but they dont care. Because of them, they forced my dad to get some crazy directTV with like 1000 channels (not really but close). In the article, the author made a great point - "Who on earth needs 100 cable channels?" Which is SO true. Honestly, even someone who watched TV for a LIVING couldnt watch THAT much..Why does there have to be numerous sports channels, news channels, even Spanish channels!!? Its just unnesscary to me, and it all goes back to America and how materialistic we are, along with how our lives are always busy, were always moving forward, and we always, always, ALWAYS need to be "bigger and better." I mean, it is the American "dream," right?