I just got referred to a

BBC documentary that shows what could be the harbinger of American consumerism.

Truth to the tell, the documentary is a little slow, but it's interesting nonetheless. In a nutshell, it shows the transition between appealing to the intellect and selling on need, to appealing to the emotions and selling on want.

Now, I'll be honest with you. I'm no different. My sense of want and my emotions still factor into some of my purchases. However, I suppose recognizing the problem is the first step to recovery, and that first big step is to realize exactly how they are selling to you.