Currently, I think others rate us on the things we own (cars, houses, businesses, etc). Ideally, people should judge us by the content of our character rather

Currently, I think others rate us on the things we own (cars, houses, businesses, etc). Ideally, people should judge us by the content of our character rather than the material things we own or have earned. I don't know how the American Dream is going to change, but it's different for everybody. People will always be driven by the need to earn and accomplish. America is a capitalist society, so the next "American Dream" will probably have some quantifiable aspect to it (ex. "How many people did you save?", "How many vaccines did you purchase for children in Africa?"). That's just a thought though. I'm sure the idea of not wanting stuff could take off, but people like convenience, and more over, people like stuff, and will probably be unwilling to give it up. As far as your example goes, I think the "Green" thing is just a trend. A good trend, but probably still a trend. People are capitalizing off it all the time. For instance, credit card companies probably don't care about saving trees. But since you go paperless, they get to call it "Green", and then also save a ton of money in the process.