I would like to see people more selfless, but one can not force them to be selfless and less materialistic. Just go about your own life bettering society and dont attempt to force your own will upon others.
I think her argument (though not well articulated) was a mixture of equal parts epicurianism ("People should be happy, blah blah&quot and utilitarianism a la Bentham and Mills. I don't think it was all "Pleasure" but also included that people should do what they can to Maximize world happiness. In other words, some people may be dying of aids, but the happiness of others, like herself, if it leads to more overall happiness, makes that okay. More happiness= better world, even if it is not equally distributed. I think most Americans, at least subconsciously, agree.