Consumerism essay

THE DISHONEST FACE OF CONSUMERISM

A statistic demonstrates that in 1950, there may be one car for every 60 people however in 2009, there are more than one car for every 14 people in America. This kind of example demonstrates the raising effect of consumerism by the end in the 20th 100 years. According to Cambridge Book, consumerism is definitely the situation in which too much focus is given to purchasing andowning items. In the mild of this explanation, it can be figured consumerism generally leads to materialism since materialists claim that pleasure can be improved through shopping for and spending as well.

It really is inevitable that there are present a dissidence between people about this issue. Authors like Juliet Schor, Annie Leonard and Danielle Todd support consumerism is known as a foe whereas Peter Saunders and David Twitchell, promoters the idea that consumerism is a good friend. Consumerism has its own negative effects like overspending, overworking, credit-based card debts, sociable and economic problems and so forth These bad aspects of consumerism are in majority therefore consumerism is known as a foe.

Consumerism is actually a foe since it causes overworking by activating the insatiable nature of human. Each individual aims to reach a good, certified life which ambition triggers competition among people. While Annie Leonard mentions, we certainly have become a nation of consumers (9). The reason behind this example is exactly the competitive lifestyle circumstances, every person buys a growing number of to be the best.

It is recognized that man has an insatiable nature by birth and the consumerist system triggers this kind of stimulation significantly since persons do not need to stay out of your competition. John states that consumers are well aware of the insatiable nature of consumerism, nevertheless recognize that within their society it’s the only possible way to live (1). One of the most negative aspect of consumerism comes forth at that point; as consumers can never be fulfilled with the merchandise they take in there takes place a group which tucks people into a trap. The empty and miserable customers buy a growing number of goods with the hope of finding satisfaction and achieving the best. For example, a young guy buys an iphone and just 3 months later this individual sees his friend’s Iphone 5and determines to buy the iphone 5 immediately for reaching his good friend’s level. To acquire more, this kind of man appreciated to function exceedingly so his life passes with heavy doing work conditions. In respect to Leonard, this situation makes a crazy work-watch-spend treadmill (13). This ring damages someones lives mainly because it is almost unattainable rid of this kind of circle because of the unsatisfied mother nature of human. With the lifestyle of this group, people develop into robots, they cannot think whatever except cash, working and shopping. At some point, people’s emotional and physical healths are damaged because of stress, they turn to be tired, they just do not have person times, they just do not have virtually any hobbies, that they drift apart from nature and get caught into shopping malls etc . In brief, it can be declared that consumerism is a foe as it triggers the unsatisfied characteristics of people and ensnare their lives with the work-watch-spend group. Advertisements trigger the problem of overspending which is the most mischievous outcome of consumerism.

Adverts have seven functions like identifiying brands, supplying data, persuasion previewing new trends etc . but persuasion is the foremost function which is related with consumerism. Advertisements and consumerism definitely have a good correlation seeing that powerful and visual advertising and marketing directs customers to purchase goods and services. As Juliet Schor says, it can be stated that the growing importance of tv set causes consumerism (1). It demonstrates that folks who watch TV are more inclined to getting more. Schor also claims that an avarage level of TV SET watching of 15 hours a week means nearly $3, 000 annually (1). Therefore it can be figured television is effective on peoples’ buying decisions, advertisements immediate people to use more money. These tricky adverts lead individuals to buy redundant goods. For example, Twitchell brings up that he bought a Mazda Miata though he did not need this car (1). Moreover, he states that he bought the car due to an advertising campaign which promotes the idea that if you opt for this car, all of your dreams will come true (2). This can be a clear example of overspending, an effective advertisement produced Twitchell get a luxury and redundant great which was quite expensive. Twitchell’s experience is simply the tip with the iceberg, the pace of overspending will increase a lot more with the developing importance of tv.

Due to overspending, people turn into unable to find the money for their simple, biological needs since they spend all their money for visible statusgoods. Shortly, it is confirmed that advertisements direct individuals to consume more and more but this huge effect of advertisements are destructive as over-consumption makes people not able to afford all their basic requirements. Credit card bills is another harmful outcome of consumerism. In Turkey, one million and sixty thousand people have credit card bills by 2014. This record data demonstrates that consumerism is not only a friend for starters million and sixty 1000 people in Turkey. Since it is mentioned before, man has an insatiable nature for that reason people see products like a hero and so they purchase a growing number of. Banks take advantage of people’s fralities and give them lots of credit cards. This situation provides a difficulties into society like visa or mastercard debts. Juliet Schor states that one of the most fascinating reasons for credit card debt is how many people are certainly not conscious of their particular behaviour (3). While buying merchandise people may not be aware of the actual spend being that they are not aware the particular credits will be borrowed. They will assume that these credits have time and unlimited. Credit cards are presented as hero simply by banks, customers can buy what they want without making payment simply by cash although at the end this dream concludes with a disappointing end, hoarded credit card bills.

Victims of credit cards have to market their properties, cars etc . to pay out their visa or mastercard debts. So , it can be concluded that although many persons believe to the misleading friendly face of consumerism basically it is just an invisible enemy which in turn drags people to debt spin out of control. Some may possibly say that consumerism is a good friend. However , this kind of assertion is not true. It should not always be forgotten which the capitalist program leads to the occurrence of consumerism. Saunders defends that capitalism will work for the heart since it provides people the opportunity to live a fantastic life (6). That presumption can be accepted to an extent since each individual aims to reach a good existence. This is one common will of humanity but it should be considered that human being is definitely insatiable and this system intrusions people’s disadvantages which is originating from their character. As it is described in second and third paragraphs, adverts exploit householder’s weaknesses drastically by giving the message that they can be insufficient. Persons cannot reject the desirable choices the fact that system supplies and they become a part of this system even if they can not afford the requirements of a good life. Saunders also hypothesizes that not any socioeconomic program can guarantee people a good life, they can just provide happy and advantageous lives and capitalismpasses with flying colors within this test (19).

There exist a interpersonal stratification in today’s world so these flying colors are only accessable pertaining to upper and middle classes but what about the working category? Their labor is used all the time at this time capitalist system. A good program should give a happy and worthwhile lifestyle to everybody, not just the selected rich kinds. To sum up, it can be true that capitalism can be seen as desired and allures many someones attention nevertheless this does not signify capitalism can be described as friend since it just supplies tricky and temporary dreams to a slight group of abundant people. To summarize, negative aspects of consumerism like overspending, overworking, credit card debt, social and economic complications etc . surpass so consumerism is a foe. Although some believe it is a friend, actually in real life it is impossible to compliment that disagreement since consumerism triggers the unfulfilling mother nature of human and it is not really desirable or perhaps beneficial in the long term. Consumerism is just a foe helping to make you a victim with empty guarantees. Schor feels that, to stop this situation persons should cure the time they spend in front of the TV, make use of no bank cards, stop buying unnecessary companies try to generate logical, consciously decisions when purchasing (4). If people take these types of suggestions into account, they can reach a good your life without these complicated systems. It should not always be forgotten that spending fewer makes people feel better.

WORKS CITED

Leonard, Annie. “The Story of Stuff.  Free Selection Studios, 2007. 20 Aug. 2009. World wide web.

Saunders, Philip. “Why Capitalism Is Good for the Soul.  The Insider 23. four (2008): 14- 21. Insider Online. The Insider Heritage Foundation, April. 2008. Internet.

Schor, Juliet. “Juliet Schor on The Overspent American.  TIME. com. N. s., 20 May 1998. Net.

< http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/s/schor-overspent.html>

Todd, Danielle. “You Happen to be What You Buy: Postmodern Consumerism and the

Construction of Self.  Fall 2011. Web.

Twitchell, James. “How I Bought My Red Miata.  August/ September 2000. Web.

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