The Materialist Generation?

See this article for some interesting findings from the latest CIRP survey of college freshmen. Do you think this describes Simpson students, or are we different than most? A key excerpt:

...nearly three-quarters of those surveyed in 2006 thought it was essential or very important to be "very well-off financially." That compares with 62.5 percent who said the same in 1980 and 42 percent in 1966, the first year the survey was done.

As shown above, what is striking is not just the raw numbers (see the full story), but how our generation's priorities seem to differ from the values of our parents and grandparents. Or did our parents "sell out" their idealism somewhere along the way? (This is a common charge levied by social scientists against the baby boomers.)

Thoughts on the (Red) Campaign...

The more I think about it, the more I'm skeptical of the whole (Red) Campaign. I realize it is mostly an "awareness" campaign, but still... Not familiar with it? You can read a bit more here. Here's the stuff, from the official web site:

(RED) was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver, Chairman of DATA to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund by teaming up with the world's most iconic brands to produce (PRODUCT)^RED branded products. A percentage of each (PRODUCT)^RED product sold is given to The Global Fund. The money helps women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

What's the meaning of the parentheses or brackets? Well, we call them "the embrace." Each company that becomes (RED) places its logo in this embrace and is then elevated to the power of red. Thus the name -- (PRODUCT)^RED.

You, the consumer, can take your purchase to the power of (RED) simply by upgrading your choice. Thus the proposition: (YOU)^RED. Be embraced, take your own fine self to the power of (RED). What better way to become a good-looking samaritan?!

Hmm... For some reason, that last paragraph makes me cringe, especially the whole "good-looking samaritan" thing.

Here's a crazy idea: INSTEAD of buying a $28 T-shirt or a $75 hoodie or a $175 cashmere sweater (yep...that's $175) from The Gap, one that you probably don't really need anyway, why not rescue (recycle) an old T-shirt, hoodie, or sweater from a thrift shop for $2, then give the rest directly to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS? Seems like a more efficient solution to me.

Am I being too snarky here? Too cynical? I'm curious to know what you think.

UPDATE 2009: the GAP is no longer selling a $175 cashmere sweater under the RED brand (maybe they figured out how ridiculous that sounded).