Summary Of Overselling Capitalism Benjamin Barber

In his work, “Overselling capitalism,” Benjamin Barber speaks on capitalism’s shift from filling the needs of the consumer, to creating needs. He tells how it has become easier for people to borrow money, so that they no longer get as much satisfaction from affording necessities. He says capitalism can be good when both sides benefit, but it has overgrown and must continue creating needs, even though the only people who can afford these needs don’t have any. According to Barber, people are still working hard, but them and their children are becoming seduced by unneeded shopping. He states that people are becoming more needy, and losing discipline in their lifestyle. Additionally capitalism must encourage easy and addicting shopping to

maintain itself, says Barber. He compares new towns centered around shopping, and old towns’ traditional structures. He says a culture plastered in politics or religion is easily spotted and disarmed, but the same should be for capitalism. Barber says needs exist, just in more basic varieties. Furthermore he advises parents to shield children from capitalism, and says capitalism must shift from glamorous to more necessary manufacturing. Barber concludes that society must mature in lifestyle, so that capitalism will bend to its needs (83-84).