The More Factor - Essay Example

Reading the descriptive essay, “The More Factor”, rekindled my childhood wishes, and I felt like I was on the same page with the writer. As a child, I can easily identify with the writer’s opinion regarding the American identity through a sense of wanting to exceed the boundaries or limits. The identity of wanting more, wanting to have everything you desire and can visualize, the dream to be successful in life, the rich and powerful.  Expansionism is the word I can use to describe my childhood life as well as the American culture as portrayed by Laurence Shames in “The More Factor”.  The meaning, that is used by Shames regarding the American culture, is that having more is and has been an essential idea of the country. From my reading of  “The More Factor” " shame has the opinion that it is already part of the culture of Americans to desire more, however, I should say that most people desire more in their lives not only Americans. This is true because even I desired and still desire for more in my life.

Most of all, I felt greatly surprised by what Shames described as Americans have lost focus on what is very important as he says “Americans have been somewhat backward in adopting values, hopes, ambitions that have to do with things other than more“. It surprised me because all, Americans have done, is to find ways to grow and expand.

I believe that everybody needs to live a life that is full of commodities. I do so as well. I need to go to visit new places around the globe, have things I didn't have, and provide my family a home, as well as a better life. Shames’s idea of the concept of more reminds me of my childhood friend. We used to share a lot, and do almost all things together; however, the guy did not accept defeat. He was always competing and always liked to be on the front line in everything. I used to pity him because no matter how hard he tried, he was being defeated. Even though, we should embrace the idea of “more”, I don't think we ought to take it to a level where we contend or compete against each other. Neither should we put others below us simply because of our social level, as in the case that Shames provides at the beginning of this reading “Whoever dies with the most toys wins.” Contemporary society has become greedy and selfish, and all, they cherish, is cash and being superior to others as opposed to concentrating on what truly fulfills them ethically and makes them moral individuals. Numerous Americans, particularly in today's era, frequently relate cash with unending happiness and struggle to view society by their moral and ethical standards because society has overlooked the real meaning of life, and that it is essential to be generous, to be happy, and to be humble people. In general, I believe that everybody ought to strive for more and have objectives to be more financially and economically stable, yet not make the economy an only aspiration to be superior to others.

I would like to comment on a few descriptions that Shames included in the reading that attracted my attention more than the others: Americans are somewhat backward in adopting values, hopes, ambitions that have to do with things other than more,” “The habit of more seemed to suggest that there were no such things as getting wiped out in America,” and The country is not running out of wealth, drive, savvy, or opportunities...But we have the ample indications over the past two decades that we are running out of more.”  The three descriptions vividly illustrate the American culture. They make the reader envision America's vast resources, the greedy and selfish nature of the Americans, and more consumption of the resources to remain at the top which in the end depletes the abundant resources. The writer intended the reader to see and envision the land of opportunities and the greedy nature of people.