Maybe rather than consumerism - the public response - it is a function of commercialism

[Orwellian_Ghost]

We once had "the idea of a fair go for everyone, and a certain 'in it together' attitude" here, as well. When I was young, most people thought that. Today it is rare - in fact, suspect and attacked and called "communist" and "socialist" as though that charge - "red-baiting" we always called it on the old days - automatically invalidated the idea of "in it together." You can't cite Abraham Lincoln on economic equality and the rights of labor, or Teddy Roosevelt on reform and conservation without being jumped all over as "too radical" or "too far left" today.

Maybe rather than consumerism - the public response - it is a function of commercialism - the constant barrage of commercial propaganda aimed at the public and market manipulation by the corporations?

In other words, maybe the ugly consumerism we see among the public is an effect, and not a cause. Maybe the people are not able to resist the 24 hour a day commercial onslaught. If commercialism is the cause, it makes more sense to go after that then it does to go after the people merely because they display the effect of being relentlessly commercialized. We would be treating the symptom, rather than the disease.

The business apologists say "don't blame us. The people LIKE and WANT what we give them." Liberals then throw up their hands, and say "oh well what can we do in that case?" I think we should be careful not to accept that rationale - that the corporations are only giving people what they want. That is far from the complete truth. Corporations are creating "wants" in people's minds - perceived needs, actually - through constant manipulative and fear-based campaigns, and are controlling what people buy through market manipulation and monopoly practices.

Most people do not want to be in the rat race, but have no choice. It is not so much to get ahead, as it is to keep from falling behind that they worry about.

And I am immediately suspicious of calls for efforts to reform and fix the poor working stiff, and blame him or her for all of our troubles.

We have an enormous rise in moralistic and busybody people going after people's bad habits and bad thoughts and bad choices with a religious zeal that outstrips that of the fundies by a long shot. I am suspicious of "reform" movements - we have had our share of them: tent revivals, temperance movements, censorship movements, the war on drugs, the league of decency et al, and all sorts of crusades to fix and cure those wicked working people, who we are to assume are the root of all evil in the country. Root out that devil within each one of us, and we will have that shining city on the hill - that is the promise. It never goes well.

Meanwhile, the wealthy and powerful few run right over us and loot the country.

[Breeze54]

1. What is "ugly consumerism"?

I don't 'consume' vast quantities of 'things' although I did for a very short time when I was flush and in need but I didn't feel guilty about it at all. Right now people, some, are buying gifts FOR other people they love and want to make happy and so, I don't think that's an 'ugly' thing. Of course people are persuaded by commercials! There's a whole psychology behind commercials and a lot of $$ to get people to go out and buy stuff. It's called marketing and it works. But I get the feeling that some people, not necessarily you, think that people buying stuff is bad and I think people all over the world buy stuff and would buy more if they could afford it. I don't think it's 'just' a a western thing.

I don't know....maybe I should've waited to respond to this in the AM. :P

Interesting post though! Thanks!

[nightrider767]

2. I think the problem is isolationism

The system we live in is geared to separate us. We live apart. We drive apart. We don't spend time together.

Buy the big house, die a little everyday on the job, and come home to your isolation.

[bigmonkey]

3. What would Americans think if they weren't constantly propagandized?

I find it hard to believe that people are "natually" callous about others, frenzied about acquisition, addicted to entertainment to the point of ruining their own lives over it.

In short, I agree.