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[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

> I would submit that it's not consumerism, exactly, but greed.   The desire 
> to have more than we need... much more, and making sure that everyone can 
> see 
> us having more. 
> 

There are two definitions of 'consumerism' I find in common use:

1) Protecting the consumer by enforcing product safety and honest packaging 
and labeling.

2) The greatest good in life is how much and how many material goods you can 
use up or claim possession to.

It is the second to which I refer.  As such it is the same as your defintion 
of wanting to use and possess more than we need.  I might wax affective and 
say 'more than will make us happy'.   Consumerism is very closely akin to 
materialism.

We got by very fine for centuries living within walking distance of where we 
worked and shopped, or at least a short vehicular ride.  Now people feel as 
if 
they "need" to live sixty miles away.  A family of four thought themselves 
well heeled if they lived in a 1100 sq ft house; now people feel slighted or 
cheated if they don't have a 3000 sq ft house. Etc.

How much do we need?  How much does it take to make us happy?  We are sucking 
down 42% of the world's oil production on a daily basis and I don't reckon 
people happier than their forebearers nor happier than the less consuming 
people 
around the world.

Consumerism is a deadly game where the sky's the limit.  Consumers are 
convinced that the reason they are discontent is that they aren't consuming 
enough.  
More leads to more leads to more.  I suspect we are very near the top of the 
consumerist Tower of Babel.