And now, a few words from Lao Tzu, as transmitted to me postally by Gentleman James Foley. Keep in mind that though the translation is modern, these words were written 2500 years ago.

Tao Te Ching, Verse 53
If I had the least wisdom
I could follow the Tao very well
My only fear would be going my own way
The great path is simple and direct
But people prefer byways
Look how magnificent civilization has become
The women in the finest fashion
The men with the slickest gadgets
Food and drink everywhere
Wealth and finery abound!
Yet in the shadow of this splendor,
The economy slows
Personal debt is very high
Possessions have accumulated in excess
This robber’s extravagance goes against the grain of the universe
It is not Tao
Indeed