The Philosopher Erich Fromm forecast a society obsessed with possessions.  He believed that human beings had two basic orientations, having and being. The person with the having orientation seeks to acquire things, property and to even possess people. The person with the being orientation focuses on the experience.  They derive meaning from the exchanging, engaging and sharing with other people. Fromm also predicted a culture driven by commercialism like the one we live in now is doomed to the “having” orientation which leads to dissatisfaction and emptiness. (Quoted from one of the CSI episode)

I guess it's no longer a forecast... it's so sad to witness the society just jump willingly into this emptiness and lose sight of what really matter...