Gigantism- Why is the US afflicted with it?

[Danmel]

As we prepare to fight a development near my home that includes a Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Kohl's (only 2 miles north of another Kohl's and Home Depot) in a development that already includes a Target, Costco, HomeGoods, Guitar Center and Home Depot Expo- I ask why?

Why the BIG BIG BIG everything- the big stores, the Mc Mansions, the HUmmers and Navigators and Yukons and Suburbans, the The furniture I can't sit in because my feet don't reach the floor.....

Why does everything have to be so fucking huge? What am I missing?

[skooooo]

1. materialism n/t

[Coventina]

2. Because on the inside, we're little and scared.

Walking into those huge places we feel safe and protected.

It all seems so stable, so reassurring.

"I can pick any one of 200 different sink faucets! The world must be a safe and wonderful place!!"

[jackster]

3. Thanks to the Reagan Revolution....

it's COOL to be selfish now!

[SmileyBoy]

4. I think some developments are necessary in places that need them...

For example, we've been trying to get a Costco in my city for years. But what you're describing is just overkill. Good for you on fighting it.

[natrat]

5. a heritage of very cheap (and wasted) natural resources

[Not Me]

6. Everything except cell phones...there smaller is better.

go figger.

[Spider Jerusalem]

7. Materialism and Calvinist religious tradition.

One ties into the other; one of the central ideas of Calvinism is the "predestination of the elect", which states that God has already decided who's fit for salvation and who isn't, and that, further, wealth and material success are signs that one IS one of the "elect", and has God's Holy Seal of Approval...

EDIT: There's also a deep-seated national inferiority complex that goes back to the early days of America's nationhood; compared to the established nations of Europe, the nascent US had no history and no culture, so materialism became a twisted source of national pride (and at this point is deeply ingrained into the collective American psyche and national character).

[pansypoo53219]

8. so right on furniture

got a new chair and it DWARFS the couch and older chair. it's our new pacachair/elechair. and just HAD to get the matching ottomon! i KNEW i shpould have gotten the 50's era chair with 1/2 moon ottomon. would have been perfect. AND only $20 at the end of the estate sale.
.

[BeFree]

9. It's a syndrome

The "I want more, and I want it now" syndrome which has fueled America's obesity.

[hexola]

10. Mega-Low Mart (Megalomania)...

"King of the Hill" reference for those of you who dont watch TV...

[Javaman]

11. Because we didn't smoke enough as kids...

sorry couldn't resist.