"It seems to be a law in American life that whatever enriches us anywhere except in the wallet inevitably becomes uneconomic"

This quote by Russell Baker speaks to the idea that in American life, anything that improves us in methods besides financially is typically viewed as uneconomic. This might be translated to imply that in American culture, we tend to focus on financial gain over other kinds of enrichment. This might be seen in the manner in which we value product possessions and cash over things like relationships, experiences, and understanding. Baker's quote suggests that in American life, anything that does not bring us monetary gain is seen as unimportant or uneconomic. This could be seen in the way that we focus on cash over other forms of enrichment, such as relationships, experiences, and understanding. Ultimately, this quote talks to the concept that in American life, anything that does not bring us financial gain is seen as unimportant or uneconomic.