If someone offered you a substantial reward for a good deed you preformed for them, would you take it? Would your value system stop you?p>

this story I recently read by Oscar Wilde, the main characters, an American family, turn down an expensive piece of jewelry on the premise that such extravagance does not fit their hard- working, Puritanism-based American values. Despite the fact that the scene was meant as a jest by the author upon these Americans who had taken up residence at a British country estate, it started me thinking. America’s values shifted profoundly in the late 19th century and early 20th century, from that of a sparse lifestyle fulfilled by hard work to that of the consumer-based society. By the 1950s, consumerism had become the American norm. And now that this lifestyle is coming to haunt us in the current crisis, will there be some sort of shifting in our core values again?

Most likely, there will be some changes. We have long known that consumption at the rate we have been achieving cannot be sustained. I do not see us transitioning back into some primitive form of life- globalization and modern technology have achieved too much good for that ever to happen- but I do foresee a balance occurring between the two outlooks, thus creating a brand new value system.

The shift is already becoming evident in many of the ways we approach our lives now.  “Green” and “sustainable” are certainly the catchphrases of the day. In an area a little closer to my own expertise, there is a definite shift in demand for the types of architectural spaces. For example, in imitation of the first shift where the family farm foreclosed to the suburban home; the urban condo is the current hottest commodity, and perhaps the only item selling. Although this residential space still supports the consumer lifestyle Americans know and love, it does so in a way that doesn’t require major expenditure in order to reach the places in which we love to consume, thus cutting out a good portion of our consumption. It is not a return, but rather a step towards the next shift in our value system.

Perhaps another shift we will see, or at least one I hope to see, is a desire for quality over quantity.  Rather than consuming everything in sight, Americans will simply have to get pickier about how they spend their money. I’m hoping they will learn to invest in quality spaces as well as goods. However, this may be simply a pipe dream on my part.

What sort of changes do you see occurring in the ways Americans live? What do you hope for?