1. Identify some aspect of US culture and give both idealist and materialist explanations for it.
I am going to choose education as an aspect of the US culture.
The idealist explanation: Education may be a goal, being the first one in your family to get a high school diploma or graduate from college. People may believe the only way for them to succeed and get what they want is to get a good education. Education takes hard work, sacrifice and commitment. Education may give a person opportunities that are only offered to people with a education.
Materialist explanation: People with an education make more money, get better benefits and sometimes better job security. You need money to buy an education and it can be very expensive depending on where you go and what you choose to do.

2. Which approach do you think offers the best explanation? Why?
I feel the best explanation for education is idealist. Society pushes people to better educate themselves, companies pay there employees to take classes, and the government helps pay for those who need assistance. Yet with all the help not everyone wants to further there education. Wanting an education takes something from within, its a goal, a desire. Something money doesn't buy.