Are we raising spoiled, entitled children?

I came across an interesting New Yorker article today titled, "Spoiled Rotten." The article compares American children with those of an Amazon tribe in Peru.  You can read it here...

 http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2012/07/02/120702crbo_books_kolbert?currentPage=all

My happening upon this article occurred while I was also making my way through a book called "The Entitlement Trap."  Here...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Entitlement-Trap-Choosing-Ownership/dp/1583334157/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346450205&sr=8-1&keywords=the+entitlement+trap

Hmmm... I thought.  Perhaps the universe is conspiring to teach me a lesson.

The book and the article conclude that we parents do a disservice to our children when we tie their shoes for them even though they can and should tie their own.  We create problems when we buy them things they haven't earned.  Interesting food for thought.