The move to an ultra-consumerist society has had major consequences on the way we think and act, and the way in which we treat other people. Acquisition of wealth has become the barometer of success, and the purchase of goods has become at least in part a means of displaying that wealth. We no longer buy what we need so much as what we want - or what we are told we want. Desire for new goods is instilled in us through pervasive advertising. Society has become ultra-individualist, and the focus has switched inwards towards personal gain. Other people are often framed as competitors. This is to the detriment of society.
Ethical consumerism is one response to this, as is charitable giving. I've mentioned them before, but
GiveWell is an excellent (and impartial) online charity evaluator that works with (and, for transparency, provides) huge amounts of data to determine which methods of giving are most effective.
I made an effort of recent and I was pleased with the out come
There is in fact a gathering body of evidence (such as
this experiment) to suggest that we experience more pleasure from helping others than we do from helping ourselves. Perhaps consumerism is just a phase, and the future is brighter and more altruistic than we think.