This scares me, because the New Economy strikes me as a fat, phony misnomer. There is no New Economy. It's not e-messaging, it's instant messaging. It's not Macromedia Web Animation, it's Flash. Of course, computers are faster.
Internet connections are faster.
New e-payment schemes let transactions clear in minutes rather than days. Thanks to all this speed, we have more targeted marketing, the ability to produce more, and the corresponding ability to consume more. Then again, Americans are also among the world's worst savers, and we tend to fritter away our wealth on consumer comforts rather than stable, long-term investments. Our culture's hedonistic frenzy is justified by the fact that we also work longer hours, sacrificing time for family and personal creativity. You deserve a break today, so obey your thirst and get that asinine fifth tank feeling.