Sure, but since when does life's value derive from our high standard of living? Are people with lower standards of living in other countries, or people in the past, less happy? What data we have seems to suggest otherwise and, in fact, depression is extremely common in our luxury-focused societies.

But boy, the companies selling us things sure have done a great job of convincing that happiness comes from buying disposable plastic goods and driving big cars dozens of miles to get groceries collected from around the world haven't they?