by Michael Snyder, End Of The American Dream:

Our society trains us not to think about the things that really matter.  Instead, we are constantly directed to think about whatever is going to make us happy in the moment, and if we don’t know what that is society certainly has a lot of suggestions for us.  Of course all of the things that bring a bit of temporary happiness can never fill the deep hole of emptiness and pain that most people carry around with them.  Surveys tell us that people have never been more depressed than they are right now, suicide rates have never been higher, and both legal and illegal drugs are being abused at levels that are absolutely unprecedented.  Even though we are literally surrounded by things that are supposed to make us happy, our society has never been unhappier than it is at this moment.