. Personally it doesn't bother me what Lakewood has become, it was already trending this way before I moved here.
Not to get all preachy, but:
Its not all about Lakewood. This phenomena of chasing the american dream of living a luxurious lifestyle is the biggest threat to Yiddishkeit in this generation. similar to Haskala back in the day, or worse.
How are we to bring up children to have any interest and enthusiasm in spiritual pursuits, about learning/davening etc if this is the focus we teach and live by?
Its either this world or the next. Yiddishkeit is becoming an empty shell.
Its a terrible situation, but noone speaks out.... This is not the focus of Agudah conventions or anything else. Roshei Mosdos and some Rabbonim dont criticize the redifas hamamon because they suffer from the same ailment themselves!
We are left with the glossy VOL discussing this as though its just another quality of life issue..... How ridiculous.
/end preach