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Consumerism

When it comes to consumerism, it's hard to know where to begin. It is so much a part of our lives that oftentimes we don't even realize it is there. At face value, consumerism seems like a good thing. Webster's dictionary defines it as: the promotion of the consumer's interests; the theory that an increasing consumption of goods is economically desirable; a preoccupation with and an inclination toward the buying of consumer goods. Buying things isn't so bad, is it? It boosts our economy, creates jobs, and gives us incentive to work hard. Unfortunately, like a drug, it comes with some very serious side effects.

The idea of consumerism didn't really exist until the twentieth century. It grew alongside corporations and advertising, and hit a boom period after the second World War. Commodities became part of our lives as we sought labor-saving appliances and the promise of an easier, happier life. Advertising expanded from print media to television, radio, and the internet. We are bombarded by thousands of advertising messages every day, telling us to buy more and more. The role of every American has shifted from citizen to consumer. Consumerism has turned us into insatiable buying machines, creating a constant sense that we are never fully satisfied; we can never keep up with the Joneses. We buy products to make us happier, but are we really happy?

So what is so bad about consumerism? In a word, everything. By focusing on the economic aspects in life, it ignores everything else, including all the non-monetary costs that come along with a consumerist lifestyle. In our quest to acquire more possessions, we ignore the fact that our greed is killing the planet, hijacking our sanity, and leaving us (and our world) empty and lifeless. If all we have to hope for in life is more and more stuff, then what do we have to live for? Consumerism instills materialism, greed, and indifference in us. Like any infection, we often don't even know we've got the disease until it is too late.

Consumerism is centered on greed; its maxim has always been to maximize profits and minimize costs. The "free" market ignores the human element in economics. Numbers matter more than people in consumer-capitalism, and it's a dog-eat-dog world. By the numbers, consumerism looks good. There is more wealth and affluence, more business being done and more money being made. However, the numbers don't show the inequalities capitalism brings: the growing gap between rich and poor, the racism and sexism in the job market, and the concentration of capital in the hands of the few are just a few of this system's effects. Consumer-capitalism has just gotten out of hand.

Consumerism instills materialism, greed, and indifference in us. Like any infection, we often don't even know we've got the disease until it is too late.

Recent research has discovered that more consumption and materialism do not lead to more happiness. Depression is on the rise, and despite the fact that we are the wealthiest nation, we also have high rates of mental illness and are dependent on antidepressants and other drugs to keep us "happy." According to an article in The Guardian by Polly Toynbee, "Happiness has not risen in western nations in the last 50 years, despite massive increases in wealth." Surveys by psychologists and social scientists indicate that people are no happier that they were 50 years ago, and may be more unhappy. Since the last 50 years has seen the unprecedented growth of consumer-capitalism, it is no surprise that people are beginning to wonder if consumerism and unhappiness are two sides of the same coin.

How can such a well-off nation be so unhappy? Much of the dissatisfaction we have with our lives stems from the fact that the capitalist system is brutally competitive. We are constantly comparing ourselves to others, especially the fictional people we see in commercials and the entertainment industry. According to a survey by University of Southern California economist Richard Easterlin, what makes people happy is not wealth, material possessions, or earning money, but family, friends, and good health. Happiness cannot be bought.

How do we take our lives and our sanity back from the restraints of our consumer culture? We can realize that we are world citizens, and that our actions can have effects felt across the globe. We can become engaged in living and make the most of life instead of worrying about financial matters and the superficial things in life. We can dedicate more time to our families, our communities, and our society and less to our work. Or, better yet, we can feel good about our work and use it as a vehicle for doing good in the world. It's time to realize that we are more than consumers, we are people. We need to love, to learn, to live and to grow in an environment that is open and equal to all. We have the right to have our minds free from commercial messages and corporate control.

Depression is on the rise, and despite the fact that we are the wealthiest nation, we also have high rates of mental illness and are dependent on antidepressants and other drugs to keep us "happy."

To start, we can educate others about the consequences of our addiction to material goods and wealth. We can spread the word that there are things more important than status, money, and commodities. Gradually, a shift in consciousness will come about and our culture can change for the better. True freedom is freedom to think and do what is best for us while allowing all our neighbors across the world to do the same. The rampant consumerism promoted by American culture threatens the existence of all creatures, including ourselves. By spreading a worship of money and a lack of values, careless pollution and reckless use of our precious resources, and an aversion to sacrifice for the common good, consumer-capitalism is putting us in harm's way. It's time to re-invent the system with the big picture in mind.

I know we can evolve, and that some day we will be more alive, more aware, and happier. Then we will learn to live in peace. It's amazing what connections consumerism has. By changing it, we can truly change the world.

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