Sentence:  We accept that a third of the population live on the poverty line. We accept that only a handful of the most exceptional of the children of the poor will make it through to a third-level education. We accept massive examples of greed and dishonesty in public life. We except the values of <WSD>materialism</WSD>. What do we expect then—to be left un-harassed, we who have all the privileges? 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Constant concern over material possessions and wealth; a great or excessive regard for worldly concerns.