In America, we worship choice. We need our 31 flavors, our extensive wardrobes, our buffet line, our Universalist Church, our list of options so we can feel like we’re in control of our lives. It’s a right which all men ought to have, we say, and indeed, we think we’re entitled to a sense of self-determination—it’s the “American way.” Choice is an idol which gives us meaning—it defines our very existence—and we cannot live without it. We need to be able to express our individuality, to choose our own path, to do what is best for us as individuals. And as consumers, choice satisfies all of our desires. We love it—it is a god that serves us and delivers what we want.

But to what lengths are we willing to go, in order that we may worship this idol? Would we lie and steal from others? Would we kill our own child? Would we invade other countries?

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