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Curious that anyone would advocate leaving folks alone "to decide what they value", and yet in the same breath would choose to condemn those who don't share their "religion or values". Perhaps you're right, maybe some do "speak with hate in their hearts of those who do not feel as they do".
"And why dost thou behold the mote that is in thy brother`s eye, and the beam that is in thine own eye dost not consider?" Matthew 7:3
Personally, I do think there's a spiritual vacuum that's being inadequately filled by a consumer culture and the cult of celebrity (our new "gods"). But filling that vacuum with a culture of self-righteous Pharisees and a plastic mono-theology isn't the answer either.
The topic is capitalism and spending, this is not the Religion forum
The Wal-mart in Valley Stream NY is being sued, according to CNN. I feel sorry for the employee who was trampled on black Friday,the glass doors crashed in on him and mangled him, along with the crowds. A sad commentary.
So if America stopped "spending," what would everyone do for jobs? Already we see the results.
When Americans stop buying houses, not only do realtors lose their jobs, but so do bank jobs, home improvement jobs, etc.
When Americans stop "shopping," stores dry up in revenue, lay off workers, and then there's even less people to spend money, creating a drop in salex tax revenue, and leaving less money for "cultural pursuits" to be funded, like libraries, museums, etc.
When Americans stop going out to eat, restaurants close, waiters, cooks and managers lose their jobs, and again, less money going into the economy, which creates a downward spiral. Obviously people need to learn some restraint, but the worst thing that can happen to the US economy would be for people to horde away their money. If businesses aren't "selling" anything to anyone, then wages aren't exactly going to rise either.
Those who are too quick to attack "consumer culture" should be ready with an alternative. We can't all do "art" or work for the government.
Location: On the "Left Coast", somewhere in "the Land of Fruits & Nuts"
8,865 posts, read 10,403,180 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dreamofmonterey
The topic is capitalism and spending, this is not the Religion forum
The Wal-mart in Valley Stream NY is being sued, according to CNN. I feel sorry for the employee who was trampled on black Friday,the glass doors crashed in on him and mangled him, along with the crowds. A sad commentary.
Easy there "Monterey". Maybe I misunderstood your OP, but it sounded like you were asking for alternatives to Consumerism. And I don't see how you can really do that without addressing the subject of "values" (which is what defines a "culture").
Advocating "museums, art, culture, travel, diversity, and learning", etc. is all well and good, but it's not so helpful if the majority of folks would really rather spend their time in the mall. So unless you just want to discuss consumer "horror stories" or economics, perhaps it's more relevant to your OP to also ask "why is this a culture of capitalism?".
So if America stopped "spending," what would everyone do for jobs? Already we see the results.
When Americans stop buying houses, not only do realtors lose their jobs, but so do bank jobs, home improvement jobs, etc.
When Americans stop "shopping," stores dry up in revenue, lay off workers, and then there's even less people to spend money, creating a drop in salex tax revenue, and leaving less money for "cultural pursuits" to be funded, like libraries, museums, etc.
When Americans stop going out to eat, restaurants close, waiters, cooks and managers lose their jobs, and again, less money going into the economy, which creates a downward spiral. Obviously people need to learn some restraint, but the worst thing that can happen to the US economy would be for people to horde away their money. If businesses aren't "selling" anything to anyone, then wages aren't exactly going to rise either.
Those who are too quick to attack "consumer culture" should be ready with an alternative. We can't all do "art" or work for the government.
Thing is, we cannot remain at the level of gross consumption we are at today while at the same time producing less and less goods to sell.
Hypothetically speaking, I own a car wash business and you own a lawncare business. I wash your car you pay me and you mow my grass and I pay you, so money is flowing and this is good. However, while in the course of running our businesses, I buy my sponges and wax from Taiwan and you buy your lawn mower blades and filters from Japan. You and I have exchanged money for services, yet some of our money eventually left our country to purchase the necessary goods and means to continue our business which is little more than an exchange of money. In time, Japan and Taiwan reap the greatest benefit as they produced a tangible good and created wealth, whereas you and I merely exchanged it between us.
During the course of this, our society as a whole is producing less and less and consuming more and more, and at some point there comes a time when we have not created enough new wealth to sustain our ability to consume at the level we have come accustomed to. I don't think folks here are talking about returning to some primitive agrarian society.
I can't help but think about the portion of the movie by Morgan Spurlock, "Super Size Me". There is a clip where he holds up pictures of Jesus, George Washington and Ronald McDonald to a group of kindergartners. These kids have no clue who George Washington is, one recognizes Jesus Christ, but they all knew who Ronald McDonald was and could name all of his associates as well. Children are so strongly marketed to that they are basically programed from birth to consume, to desire and to want.
This country has roughly 5-6% of the worlds population, yet it consumes nearly 25% of the worlds resources of energy and durable goods. Compare the average size of the American home with that of any other nation. America is the only country with more registered cars than drivers. At the same time, of all the western nations, our production has decreased the greatest and is producing record low levels of exports as now we are even a net importer of food for the first time in like 50 years.
There is consumerism and then there is gross consumerism and we are most absolutely the latter and if we use our credit debt verses savings, this seems to bear this out.
American's have sold their soul in order to own plastic crap they do not need but merely want to the extent that America is little more than one giant yard sale right now.
Location: On the "Left Coast", somewhere in "the Land of Fruits & Nuts"
8,865 posts, read 10,403,180 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TnHilltopper
There is consumerism and then there is gross consumerism and we are most absolutely the latter and if we use our credit debt verses savings, this seems to bear this out.
American's have sold their soul in order to own plastic crap they do not need but merely want to the extent that America is little more than one giant yard sale right now.
Totally agreed. A couple things I'd like to see happen, would be a greater emphasis on community, plus less dependency on consumer spending to maintain the economy.
It always sends up cries of "socialism" here, but European economies depend less on consumer spending and more on government spending. Yes, taxes are higher, but folks actually get something in return, like free education & re-training, health care, retirement, natal care, etc.
And those programs not only contribute to a greater vision of life as something besides just acquiring money and "stuff". They also help support the larger idea of "community", with greater inter-dependency and responsibility for each other, rather than the rootless and independent "cowboy" model that's so prevalent here.
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Maybe I misunderstood your OP, but it sounded like you were asking for alternatives to Consumerism. And I don't see how you can really do that without addressing the subject of "values" (which is what defines a "culture").
