> However, I think that a big problem in our culture is the immoderate desire for material wants (as opposed to needs).

So in our culture, where needs are very easily met for even the poorest among us, what are we meant to do?

> Everywhere I go, I am astonished at the staggering amount of things we waste. Around where I live, there is a period where people can put bulk items they don't want anymore by the curb for a specialized garbage truck to pick up. During this period, I enjoy going around and picking up some of the things people leave out because many of the things are in remarkably good shape. I got my first DVD player, about 25% of my wardrobe, and an almost fully functional bicycle, just to name a few of the things I found. People are always looking to get the greatest and biggest thing, and as a result, when they do get a better replacement for an item they already have, out the door the old item goes.

And what exactly is wrong with that? Would it be better for us to hold on to things we no longer need or want or use?

You've missed several other explanations for how such things get discarded in your quest to establish that materialism == waste. Possibly the things, rather than having been replaced by the "hot new thing," are simply unused and taking up space. Who here has nothing in his possession right now that doesn't get used? Also possibly they belonged to someone who moved away, joined a mission, went to jail, or died.

Not that I'm saying this is necessarily true any more than is your assumption. But it does certainly appear that you're intent on casting aspersions and using whatever ammunition you can find.

> Maybe I'm just overreacting to a few people who are more obssessed with material objects then others.

You are.

> However, I know that more material objects will not make my life any better than it already is.

Yeah, I know that's trendy, but why is it necessarily true? I can think of a *lot* of ways in which my life could be improved by material objects, and I don't believe you're so well-off that yours could not.