zxcvbs Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 What is your opinion on people that worry about consumism, having items mass produced. I think consumism is buying things priming first their symbolical status over their use value. Does worrying about void heads, that: vote candidates not by their political position but by their advertising. buy things blindly, just by brands, without thinking about their specifications. value things not by their own judgement, but with a dogma adoctrined by mass media (be it, moral, religious, aesthetic). Implies that you have to live in a cave? without any mass produced stuff? or you are a false hypocrite that just have to shut off? Example: You cant preach against consumism because you have any of: x hobby that use mass produced items x mass produced bike x mass produced car Specially on oligopolical markets. You cant talk about animal rights, because you eat honey, meat, use leather, etc.
Agalloch Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 Consumerism? People who are against cconsumerism and not the State, or at least Central Banking, blow my mind. The entire philosophy behind The pro-inflation, Keynsian Central Banking concept, is that deflation could signal less demand in the economy, so we need to force inflation to actively force people to spend more and not save and plan. Which is stupid in itself, sort of like putting makeup on a jaundice person and saying that fixed any medical problems they might have. But as well as being internally contradictary, none of the people I hear whining about consumerism ever talk about this. Even though it's single handedly the primary reason people spend instead of saving, and spend quickly and brashily instead of risking their money devaluing. 1
zxcvbs Posted July 6, 2015 Author Posted July 6, 2015 Consumerism, from an anti state perspective. State, Private, on higher levels are the same fraction of a ruling oligopolistic power.
Alan C. Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 What is your opinion on people that worry about consumism, having items mass produced. There are two issues. My opinion of people who worry about consumerism is that they're projecting to alleviate their own guilt for consuming. My opinion of having items mass produced is that it improves the aggregate standard of living.
thebeardslastcall Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 I hope they aren't advocating against the mass production of Dioxide and Glucose. My brain kind of needs them.
Mister Mister Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 Consumerism can be a psychological issue of trying to fill a lack of connection and love and happiness in one's life with material stuff. It is an addiction, like any other - drugs, food, sex, gambling, video games, porn, etc. and is a serious issue, but can't be solved by the government. Often ignored as well, is the role that women play in this, as they tend to control most of household spending, and the majority of consumerism is directed at women.Also, as Agalloch pointed out, Keynesianism, Central Banking, Fractional Reserve Banking, and other State policies discourage saving and encourage spending in the here and now.
mrhumpty Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 I generally don't worry about people who complain about consumerism until they go to the poles to force me to consume in a way they find appropriate. I don't care about those who they would label as followers of consumerism because I find no problem with people consuming freely until those people are subsidized or rescued by my tax dollars or the tax dollars of my descendants.
Three Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 Consumerism? People who are against cconsumerism and not the State, or at least Central Banking, blow my mind. The entire philosophy behind The pro-inflation, Keynsian Central Banking concept, is that deflation could signal less demand in the economy, so we need to force inflation to actively force people to spend more and not save and plan. Which is stupid in itself, sort of like putting makeup on a jaundice person and saying that fixed any medical problems they might have. But as well as being internally contradictary, none of the people I hear whining about consumerism ever talk about this. Even though it's single handedly the primary reason people spend instead of saving, and spend quickly and brashily instead of risking their money devaluing. I think that's really fascinating, especially since those I've come across who are anti consumerism believe that consumerism is a result of capitalism. So, given those facts, would a good way of putting it be that consumerism, in its modern form, is more so an effect of the State?
shirgall Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 I think that's really fascinating, especially since those I've come across who are anti consumerism believe that consumerism is a result of capitalism. So, given those facts, would a good way of putting it be that consumerism, in its modern form, is more so an effect of the State? Look at the difference between the tax rate on savings (the capital gains rate) and the tax rate on purchases (direct sales tax, income tax, and taxes on profit) modulo the effects of inflation (another hit on the value of savings). Most people are discouraged more from saving versus spending. Add to this the fear of increasing prices (the CPI) having a greater impact on the news cycle, and the higher-level focus being on GDP growth. 2
thebeardslastcall Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 I think that's really fascinating, especially since those I've come across who are anti consumerism believe that consumerism is a result of capitalism. So, given those facts, would a good way of putting it be that consumerism, in its modern form, is more so an effect of the State? Or perhaps they're just playing the long game and know that the state will collapse the market and the consumption causing a distinct drop in consumerism because most will be broke and in debt and overall wealth is spent inefficiently causing a disruption to overall long term consumption. Not a given of course as productivity isn't simple.
Alan C. Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 Nobody complains about too much soap, tooth paste, or toilet paper. When people think of consumerism, maybe the mean the mobs who stampede over each other and knock down displays at the mall during Black Friday so that they can grab sneakers, TVs, microwaves, and waffle irons, or the folks who camp out in front of Best Buy and Apple to buy the latest iteration of the newest smart phone. Yeah, they're probably trying to fill a void in their lives.
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