What is a loss or gain?

I'm sitting here thinking about the weekend that I just survived and the schedule for the coming week when something came to mind. I mean things are always changing, thats a given. But I have often heard about progress, but the other portion of that is what do we sacrifice to move forward? I mean I remember growing up and what we used to do for the holiday season overall. It wasn't perfect, but it was not bad either. But now a days, we are always so busy and running so much that often you want the holidays to be done just so you can slow down. I mean you have things that others think are mandatory, but really are optional. I mean lets face reality, no kid needs more than two or three outfits and a few toys. I mean really what child needs dozens of toys and clothes. Its already bad enough that the current generation doesn't understand the true difference between need and want. Let alone to continue to feed the delusion by soothing guilt at Christmas by spending money we don't have to get presents the kids only want because they see it on TV. It just irks me that people wonder why America is in the present state, but continue to do everything in excess. I mean, we are the world's best and worse nation. We are the best as far as overall healthcare and lifestyle. We are the worse as far as just abusing everything by using it to the excess. I know I'm only adding to the whine of it all, but, maybe after we finish falling finanically will we as a nation see the light.