There are interesting relevant comments in the HN thread on conspicuous consumption (linked from the Best of HN'08 post): "Child enrichment has replaced the yu

There are interesting relevant comments in the HN thread on conspicuous consumption (linked from the Best of HN'08 post): "Child enrichment has replaced the yuppie trends of the late 1980s and early 1990s, when it was important to own a BMW and Rolex watch. Today, the children of this same generation have become the vital signs of success... Messages that speak to mothers about bettering the lives of their children, enriching their experiences, and creating more intelligent students can be seen in print and electronic ads." "Children became their status symbol. Discretionary dollars switched from diamond bracelets to private violin instructors and university sports camps located seven states away." http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=219936 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=219936