The Negative Aspects of Consumerism
The American society today has undergone many advances not only technologically but also economically. This is due in full by the advancement of capitalism and consumerism. Consumerism is referred to as the promotion of the interests of consumers. This correlates with the free market economy and the ability for Americans to buy and sell goods freely. However, there are many negative consequences to this aspect of the free market economy. The problems with consumerism include but aren’t limited to, global warming, health issues, and discontent with life. Consumerism affects not only the people living in the United States, but also the environment within the states. Many Americans believe that global warming …show more content…
In Juliet Schor’s essay “The Creation of Discontent,” Schor states that although consumerism has generated many goods that make life easier, the desire for these goods and to have the latest and greatest model is making significantly wealthy people feel as though they are hardly getting by (1-2). This means that the Americans living at poverty level must have the same feelings except on a smaller scale. However, there are people who are reverting back to a time when most supplies and food were made at home. This would show a significant decrease in money spent on things that were not necessary to survival, and a significant increase in money that can be pocketed or saved by not purchasing these unnecessary goods. Although these people will have work harder than those with the fancy new products that are designed to make life easier, those who provide for themselves will be rewarded with more money in pocket and the contentment with knowing that they are doing their best to preserve the environment. Schor quoted Butler and wrote, “Eventually she realized that more money was not the answer. Her needs were satisfied. As she acknowledged: ‘Discontent was cheating me of the life I
The American society today has undergone many advances not only technologically but also economically. This is due in full by the advancement of capitalism and consumerism. Consumerism is referred to as the promotion of the interests of consumers. This correlates with the free market economy and the ability for Americans to buy and sell goods freely. However, there are many negative consequences to this aspect of the free market economy. The problems with consumerism include but aren’t limited to, global warming, health issues, and discontent with life. Consumerism affects not only the people living in the United States, but also the environment within the states. Many Americans believe that global warming …show more content…
In Juliet Schor’s essay “The Creation of Discontent,” Schor states that although consumerism has generated many goods that make life easier, the desire for these goods and to have the latest and greatest model is making significantly wealthy people feel as though they are hardly getting by (1-2). This means that the Americans living at poverty level must have the same feelings except on a smaller scale. However, there are people who are reverting back to a time when most supplies and food were made at home. This would show a significant decrease in money spent on things that were not necessary to survival, and a significant increase in money that can be pocketed or saved by not purchasing these unnecessary goods. Although these people will have work harder than those with the fancy new products that are designed to make life easier, those who provide for themselves will be rewarded with more money in pocket and the contentment with knowing that they are doing their best to preserve the environment. Schor quoted Butler and wrote, “Eventually she realized that more money was not the answer. Her needs were satisfied. As she acknowledged: ‘Discontent was cheating me of the life I