Razoo Causes: Consumerism

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Cause Last Updated:
November 05, 2008

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Consumerism is the equation of personal happiness with the purchase of material possessions. In 2006, wealthy consumers spent an average of $2,441 on consumer electronics products alone. Situation: Many citizens today care far more for their posessions than they do for most anything else--spiritual health, physical well-being, the good of their fellow man. Materialism is less a phenomenon and more a disease, an infection that whispers to the consumer that he is what he buys. Consumerism plays off of a goods-oriented culture rather than a good-oriented culture. In other words, people seek to buy goods rather than to be good and productive members of society.&n...

Consumerism is the equation of personal happiness with the purchase of material possessions. In 2006, wealthy consumers spent an average of $2,441 on consumer electronics products alone.

Situation: Many citizens today care far more for their posessions than they do for most anything else--spiritual health, physical well-being, the good of their fellow man. Materialism is less a phenomenon and more a disease, an infection that whispers to the consumer that he is what he buys. Consumerism plays off of a goods-oriented culture rather than a good-oriented culture. In other words, people seek to buy goods rather than to be good and productive members of society. Consumerism is a cancer upon a society, a problem that hollows out a culture from the inside. Those who oppose consumerism do not oppose purchasing and even a thriving goods economy. Such opposition would be foolish and detrimental to a society. Those who oppose consumerism oppose greed, needless spending, and a society constructed on appearance rather than substance.

Statistics: In 2005, Western consumers spent 17 billion on pet food and devoted just nine billion dollars to providing global sanitation and healthy water. In America, a recent study found that teens spend an average $135 per month on apparel and related products. This is one of the most sordid aspects of consumerism: marketers targeting children and breeding within them a lust for materials. Currently, kids between the ages of 9 and 14 account for an incredible 36 billion dollars in sales. The marketing blitz targeting children is working. In a recent survey, 51% of teens said they looked forward to watching tv and playing computer games on Saturdays. Spending time with family and friends? Only 31% of the teens desired to do so. Apparently, consumerism is displacing the family as the most important aspect of childrens' lives. Is this really a surprise?

YOU SHOULD CARE because people should not be “consumed” with themselves but should care for their fellow citizens by giving sacrificially and living responsibly. The souls of people of all ages are impoverished by consumerism and its siren call. Join the cause, and stand against needless buying and rampant materialism.

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