Big House Rant

I had to perform a rant at the front of the class for an English assignment.
I went to the US for Christmas, and what I saw bothered me.
A lot.
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Alright people, listen up. Big houses are completely unnecessary. They are everywhere you go now. I see that there's you, your spouse, and your dog, and you like to entertain. But unless you are planning on entertaining a horde of orphans, you don't need over 2000 square feet and "bonus rooms." "Oh, but I can't live without my billiards room, man den, 3 or 4 extra bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, work out space, indoor pool, 3 car garage, and 2 dining rooms!" Yes, you can. Get over it. The amount of money and energy you spend on heating and cooling the house could feed thousands of poverty stricken people for months.
People used to make do with under 1000 square feet and those were the families with 5 or more kids. Why is it, that in the past 50 years, the average house size has doubled? Why would anyone need that much space, especially since people have fewer kids than ever before? Let's stop this craziness.
A big house should not be the measure of a person, ever. A trip through modern suburbs, and shows like MTV's Cribs seem to push the idea that a huge house means instant popularity. Not only is that shallow, it also causes people to believe that they are worth nothing because they aren't filthy rich.
I understand that different people have different priorities, really, I do. But it's time people realize that "need" and "want" are two entirely different concepts. Get rid of your extra stuff, downsize, and for godssake, don't bring home anymore of those "reusable" bags. They will not redeem you in the environment's eyes.