Let’s Get This Bread

If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past few months, you’ve noticed that the phrase “let’s get this bread” has taken over social media. Personally, I think it’s a really funny trend with a historical context that can’t be ignored. After all, what is a social media trend if not representative of the culture that forges and perpetuates it? As lighthearted as it is, “Let’s get this bread” is an indictment of America’s declining values.

Think about it. The joke is that every morning we wake up and immediately think about going out and grinding for money. But is it a joke really? Or is it a serious slogan for a society that worships money above all else? My experience at a college with a heavy emphasis on finance and business has shown me what it truly means to put money first.

Parents send their kids to school to study money. I have buddies that wake up in the morning and immediately check their Robinhood app like today’s the day they’ll be instantly rich. Everywhere I look students are dressed up in expensive suits ready to drop to their knees and beg for an entry level position at some bank where they’ll work 100 hour weeks and get treated like shit for being a rookie. When people meet someone that’s filthy rich, I see their eyes light up as if they just met their savior— hoping they can be best friends or get married or something. Why? Because money is the solution to all your problems…right?

I just read a Forbes article the other day that said CEO’s are twice as likely to be depressed than the general public and wealthy countries have way higher depression rates than less industrialized ones. Now there’s a million reasons this may be true and I’m not willing to bore you with the details but the point is this: “Money can’t buy you happiness” is more than just true. It’s an understatement.

Not convinced that Americans are obsessed with money based on my anecdotal evidence? Well let’s look at popular culture. Hip-Hop is the most popular music genre in the US today. I love that shit because I like a beat that bumps and I like rhymes. But the lyrics bother me pretty often for their lack of substance. Yesterday I listened to three songs on my way to class that all mentioned Patek watches (Eskeetit, New Patek, Yosemite). Virtually ever other line in a Lil Pump song describes something fancy that he’s wearing. The lines in between are probably about how much money it cost. AND WE EAT THAT SHIT UP. My only explanation for this is that Americans have entered an era where we worship wealth.

Ever watch the Wolf of Wall Street? It’s my favorite movie of all time. What’s scary is how many people totally miss the point which is that money corrupted Jordan and ended up ruining his life. Instead he became somewhat of an idol for kids interested in banking. Most of my friends only really like to watch the first half of the movie where every scene shows how much fun he’s having and how great life is because of his wealth. And the eventual demise brought about by his greed and hedonism? Ehhh, let’s skip over that part.

So you might be thinking “Yeah, whatever dude. Why do you care anyway?”

Ever hear of the 7 stages in the life cycle of an empire? Almost all if not all empires in human history followed the same basic pattern from their rise to their downfall. I won’t go through all of it but the second to last stage is “The age of decadence” — AKA the age of materialism if you will. Any guesses what the last stage is? The age of decline and collapse.

Relax, I’m not out here trying to predict an apocalypse. I’m optimistic by nature. I’m just saying it’s something to think about. So by all means let’s get this bread people. Just try not to make that your number 1 priority all the time. If you do, it’s a pretty safe bet that you’ll end up regretting it.

Filip, again.