Cool post with great examples, but I think there's something you've missed. America has been duped into this "American Dream" of owning a huge home with 2 cars per person, etc. It was sold on consumerism. Then we learned that these McMansions were just huge wastes of everything from time-money. Then people tried to make them "green" by stacking solar panels in their yards and roofs simply to heat the pool.

I partially disagree in that its not entirely about the money, but it may be more about falling for the consumerist society dependent on material objects as social status.