Sam Wong, speaking during his sophomore year at Iowa State University: Materialism, like patience, is a virtue. Ever since my parents bought me my first Transformer, almost everyone has tried to convince me that owning a lot of toys wouldn’t make me happy. Oh, how wrong they were. Toys make me very, very happy. That’s why today I have more of them than ever. I own every Nintendo. I own two CD-R burners. My drum set cost as much as a semester of school. I drive a Miata. What’s more, I’m not ashamed to be a consumer. I consider it part of my American heritage, and I’m proud of it. 

a. Do you share Wong’s values? Explain. 

b. Is materialism in America’s best interests? Explain.