Happiness

If you haven't seen Mad Men on AMC, I highly recommend giving it a try. The show had been recommended to us by several trusted sources, so we decided to start with season 1 on DVD. Last night we popped in disc 1 and were so engrossed that we watched all 3 episodes on the disc in one sitting.
There is a moment in the first episode that really struck a chord with me though - it's when the main character is making an ad pitch to a tobacco company telling them how to overcome the latest stigma that cigarettes are deadly (the show is set in the early 60's). He says this to the tobacco execs:
"Advertising is about one thing: happiness."

That is a profound truth. And I am so susceptible to trying to buy my happiness based on slick advertising and pretty pictures. I pour over magazines and websites trying to find that perfect item, food, clothing, beauty remedy. Once I think I've found it I set all my hopes upon it, salivating for the moment when it will be mine and bring me that happiness I so desire. It NEVER does. But instead of allowing that fact to sink in, I search for something else to distract myself in pursuit of.

The character in Mad Men goes on to describe happiness as "the smell of a new car, freedom from fear, a Billboard on the side of the road that screams with the reassurance that whatever you're doing is ok. You are ok."

Am I alone in feeling like I've been duped by the advertising machine of our consumer culture? I'd love to hear your thoughts.