As one of the most powerful nations on Earth our actions send a message to the rest of the world about our beliefs, and what we believe is appropriate actions and attitudes. It also means that we have a responsiblity to lead by example. As one of the most powerful nations on Earth we have the inate ability to do so, and expect our government to make it happen. But we as individuals MUST consider our actions and ensure that the things we do are aligned with the messages we seek to convey. The government can't do it, each of us must.

Capitalism is built on the premise that markets are driven by the flow of dollars, and that the flow of dollars represents the will, desire, and values of those spending them. In today’s America, a part of this has been lost. Spending no longer clearly communicates American values, save one: That Americans want more for less. But as individuals, this isn’t enough.

Marketers spend billions of dollars each year in an attempt to understand what people want, how they want it packaged, and how much they’ll pay for it. But the message we, as consumers, send is missing an important element – values. Part of our decision making process should include consideration for the impact of our purchases. And as the largest, most powerful economy on the planet, our impact is immense.