> But questions like "Why is there so much materialism? Why is it so competitive?" strike me as absurd. Agreed. That kind of question I think only comes from a

> But questions like "Why is there so much materialism? Why is it so competitive?" strike me as absurd. Agreed. That kind of question I think only comes from a place where one has not experienced things like having a child or spouse or parent needing $100k+ for a medical problem. (To give just one easy example.) Or at least, not having the foresight to consider such events.