The New Consumerism Summary

Americans today are consumer-driven and rely on materials to fulfill them. Unfortunately, this has permeated through our whole society, but why is that? Because the American market has been controlled by unnecessary consumption for decades and this is not incidental. As Americans we are surrounded by an atmosphere of advertisement that constantly portrays to us the benefits of buying good things and the drawbacks of being the only one without a phone or a computer. They do this in order to replace a want with a need. If a consumer believes something is necessary to a happy life then they will go out of their way to purchase it even if they do not have the ability to pay for it. This “need” complex not only arises from the media or newspapers, but from our neighbors and friends. This social competition for luxury goods has been noticed since the 1950’s and has been created from another need to satisfy. Consequently, Americans have placed many of their identities and lives in materials because they believe that these unnecessary goods will satisfy something that only God can fulfill.

Juliet Schor in “The New Consumerism,” concedes with the fact that Americans consume ample amounts of materials as a result of trying to keep up with another family

or the rest of America. She argues that this ever-growing consumerism is damaging Americans because they waste their paychecks and savings on unnecessary goods that will be in style for a few months. Luckily, We have created a credit that will let us buy anything. Consequently, we cannot pay our credit back, which will make us bankrupt and ruin our lives and our children’s lives. This endless cycle of buying nonessential materials and going into debt not only hurts our wallet but also our children because we portray that this consumption leads to a fulfilling life.
Phyllis Rose argues in “Shopping and Other Spiritual Adventures in America Today” that shopping is a form of therapy.

It gives us a feeling of power and control in our lives when we can buy this sweater or that car, which is true, but is this not another way where we feel a need to buy something? It is great when this helps someone heal, but I believe it will lead to an overwhelming compulsion to buy materials to get another fix. As seen over the years, when someone experiences a good felling, they usually try it again if they believe it to be harmless. Consequently, these uncanny desires to buy luxuries and feel better will result in entering an uncontrollable consumerism where we will lose find no

satisfaction.
Source 8 reveals unreasonably high prices for goods that most people will argue are unnecessary. Now why would people buy these things unless they feel a need or a compulsion from outside sources to purchase these unjustifiably priced goods. Unfortunately, our country and the world have cheerfully supported the acceptance of this consumption. As Christians and people who care, we need to show that there is a God and a truth that will eternally satisfy them rather than a new car or game which will only satisfy for a few months.
We should recognize that the copious amounts of resources and luxuries we have today are an incredible feat that should not be ignored. We can travel five minutes in a motorized vehicle and buy food for our family that can last a month, but unfortunately, our sinful nature takes great gifts that God has relinquished to us and perverts it into something else that we believe will satisfy us. We all search for something to gratify our emptiness and many people have fallen to the trap of consumerism. Therefore, this “need” complex arises from a deeper feeling and many people actually try to exploit this need to satisfy in order to make money. We need to perceive this growing problem of materialism and attack the root which is the issue of satisfaction.