Consumerism Essay

THE DISHONEST FACE OF CONSUMERISMA statistic illustrates that in 1950, on that point is angiotensin-converting enzyme simple machine for every fifty mass solely in 2009, there ar more(prenominal)(prenominal) than wizard car for every twelve citizenry in America. This exemplar demonstrates the subjoin effect of pull inrism by the end of the twentieth century. According to Cambridge Dictionary, con rack uperism is the blank space in which similarly much attention is given to acquire andowning things. In the light of this definition, it undersur face up be concluded that consumerism usually leads to materialism since materialists occupy that happiness commode be increase through acquireing and guideing as well . It is inevitable that there endure a dissidence between battalion near this issue. Authors uniform Juliet Schor, Annie Leonard and Danielle Todd support consumerism is a resistance whereas Peter Saunders and James Twitchell, advocates the theme that c onsumerism is a fighter. Consumerism has opusy negative fall out keep downs like over overleaping, over characteral, cite rag debts, social and economic problems and so forth These negative reflections of consumerism are in volume therefore consumerism is a confrontation. Consumerism is a foe since it causes overworking by triggering the unsatisfiable constitution of human. Each person aims to reach a sober, qualified flavour and this ambition causes disputation between plenty. As Annie Leonard mentions, we use up die a nation of consumers (9). The reason bathroom this situation is exactly the competitive livelihood circumstances, each person spoils more and more to be the best.It is acknowledged that human has an quenchless nature by birth and the consumerist clay triggers this stimulation substantially since heap do non want to stay out of the competition. Todd states that consumers are well a drop dead(predicate) of the unsatiable nature of consumeris m, only recognize that in their indian lodge it is the only possible itinerary to live (1). The most negative aspect of consumerism emerges at that point since consumers john neer be fulfilled with the heftys they consume there occurs a circle which tucks masses into a trap. The empty and miserable consumers buy more and more goods with the hope of finding fulfillment and arrival the best. For instance, a young man buys an Iphone 4 and erect three months later he get a lines his friends Iphone 5 and decides to buy an Iphone 5 immediately for reaching his friends level . To leverage more, this man obliged to work exceedingly so his deportment passes with heavy working conditions. According to Leonard, this situation creates a nutcase work-watch-spend treadmill (13). This circle damages peoples lives since it is almost impossible to shell rid of this circle because of the unsatisfied nature of human. With the pull throughence of this circle, people turn into robo ts, they so-and-sonot appreciate anything except money, working and shopping. Eventually, peoples psychological and physical healths are dishonored because of stress, they fuck off tired, they do not earn individual times, they do not have any hobbies, they drift apart from nature and get stuck into shopping malls etcetera Briefly, it can be said that consumerism is a foe since it triggers the unsatisfied nature of people and frame in their lives with the work-watch-spend circle. Advertisements cause the problem of overspending which is the most arch(a) essence of consumerism.Advertisements have s even so functions like identifiying brands, supplying information, persuasion previewing new trends etc. but persuasion is the best function which is related with consumerism. Advertisements and consumerism definitely have a positive correlation since powerful and visual advertising directs consumers to purchase goods and services. As Juliet Schor states, it can be said that the growing enormousness of television causes consumerism (1). It demonstrates that people who watch TV are more inclined to buy more. Schor in addition asserts that an avarage level of TV ceremonial of 15 hours a week equals close to $3,000 per year (1). So it can be concluded that television is very legal on peoples buying decisions, advertisements direct people to spend more money. These tricky advertisements lead people to buy redundant goods. For instance, Twitchell mentions that he bought a Mazda Miata although he did not need this car (1). Moreover, he states that he bought the car because of an advertisement which promotes the idea that if you buy this car, all of your dreams volition come true (2). This is a clear example of overspending, an effective advertisement made Twitchell buy a luxury and redundant good which was pretty expensive. Twitchells experience is full the tip of the iceberg, the rate of overspending will increase more and more with the growing richne ss of television.Due to overspending, people become ineffectual to afford their basic, biological needs since they spend all their money for visible placement goods. Shortly, it is verified that advertisements direct people to consume more and more but this vast effect of advertisements are destructive since over-consumption makes people unable to afford their basic needs. credence card debts is another destructive outcome of consumerism. In Turkey, one million and lx thousand people have creed card debts by 2014. This statistical information demonstrates that consumerism is not a friend for one million and sixty thousand people in Turkey. As it is mentioned before, human has an insatiable nature therefore people see products as a hero and they purchase more and more. Banks take advantage of peoples fralities and give them lots of attribute card. This situation brings a trouble into society like quotation card debts. Juliet Schor solicits that one of the most fascinatin g things about honorable mention card debt is how many people are not conscious of their behaviour (3). dapple buying goods people cannot be awake(predicate) of what they spend since they are not aware that these impute are borrowed. They assume that these credits are free and limitless. Credit cards are presented as hero by banks, consumers can buy what they want without qualification payment by cash but at the end this dream concludes with a disappointing end, hoarded credit card debts.Victims of credit cards have to sell their houses, cars etc. to pay their credit card debts. So, it can be concluded that although many people believe to the misleading friendly face of consumerism actually it is just an invisible rival which drags people to debt spiral. Some may suppose that consumerism is a friend. However, this assertion is not true. It should not be bury that the capitalist dodging leads to the occurrence of consumerism. Saunders defends that capitalism is good for the instinct since it gives people a chance to live a good life (6). That supposal can be accepted to an terminus since each person aims to reach a good life. This is a common will of all humanity but it should be considered that human being is insatiable and this clay doings peoples weaknesses which is coming from their nature. As it is mentioned in second and third paragraphs, advertisements exploit peoples weaknesses dramatically by giving the message that they are insufficient. mickle cannot reject the sought after choices that the system bears and they become a part of this system even if they cannot afford the requirements of a good life. Saunders also hypothesizes that no socioeconomic system can guarantee people a good life, they can just provide keen and worth opus lives and capitalism passes with flying colours on this test (19).There exist a social stratification in todays world so these flying colors are just accessable for upper and middle classes but what abo ut the working class? Their labor is secondhand all the time by this capitalist system. A good system should provide a happy and worthwhile life to everyone, not just the selected rich ones. To sum up, it is true that capitalism can be seen as desirable and attracts many peoples attention but this does not mean that capitalism is a friend since it just provides tricky and temporary dreams to a minor group of rich people. In conclusion, negative aspects of consumerism like overspending, overworking, credit card debts, social and economic problems etc. outstrip so consumerism is a foe. Although some argue that it is a friend, actually in realistic life it is impossible to support that channel since consumerism triggers the unfulfilling nature of human and it is not desirable or beneficial in the capacious run. Consumerism is just a foe which makes you a victim with empty promises. Schor believes that, to avoid this situation people should decrease the time they spend in front of the TV, use no credit cards, stop buying excess products and try to make logical, consciously decisions while purchasing (4). If people take these suggestions into account, they can reach a good life without these tricky systems. It should not be forgotten that spending less makes people determine better.WORKS CITEDLeonard, Annie. The Story of Stuff. Free localise Studios, 2007. 20 Aug. 2009. Web.Saunders, Peter. Why Capitalism Is nifty for the Soul. The Insider 23.4 (2008) 14- 21. Insider Online. The Insider Heritage Foundation, Apr. 2008. Web.Schor, Juliet. Juliet Schor on The Overspent American. TIME.com. N.p., 20 may 1998. Web.< http//www.nytimes.com/books/first/s/schor-overspent.html>Todd, Danielle. You Are What You vitiate Postmodern Consumerism and theConstruction of Self. Fall 2011. Web.Twitchell, James. How I Bought My Red Miata. August/ September 2000. Web.