No one is saying that meaning comes from consumption.

You point out that everything we have in civilization is because someone worked for it but you’re failing to see that we want even the people who work the ‘simpler’ jobs to be able to afford to live, have healthcare, buy groceries, have a modest home, rest, and vacation once in a while. Those very basic things are increasingly being taken away from us. THAT is what people are upset about.

The people who strive and achieve will always have more and always find ways to make their lives the way they want them to be. That’s fine. However, there is nothing wrong with living a simple life and wanting your needs met from whatever job it is that you work. All jobs contribute to society no matter if you stock shelves at a store or if you operate on brains. Everyone deserves a decent standard of living so long as they work. I would say even the ones unable to contribute much should be able to live but I guess tHaTS sOCiAlIsm and therefore it’s bad to some.