Free Essay On Consumerism

It needs to be noted that Juliet Schor delves into the phenomenon of consumerism and cries foul over the negative effects of it. The author goes on to explicate how consumerism works to create discontent among the people of the society. As consumerism has come to encompass the society and people, there is a surmounting desire among people to get hold of the consumer products. These consumer products have come to become synonymous with the concept of happiness among people of the society. The material culture of the society has taken up a major part of the lives of people. The author goes on to explicate stories of some people’s lives and how consumerism has added to their discontents. The article explicates how the line between necessity and luxury has been blurred in the present era of consumerism. Indeed, people’s needs for acquiring and enjoying materialistic products are getting heightened with time. However, the income of the people does not get enhanced as such in synchrony with the enhancement of needs. As such, many people want to have more consumer products, but are unable to acquire the same due to monetary reasons. This, in turn, gives rise to discontent among the people of the society as they have come to find consumerism to be synonymous with happiness in their lives. The author puts forth the view against consumerism with utmost elaboration and emphasis.
In stark contrast, Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr goes on to speak in favor of consumerism in the writing. Here, the author opines that every person has the right to make his or her life better. Now, the technological developments have come to make life much easier in the present times. As such, people aim to acquire the materialistic products so as to make their lives more comfortable and easy. There is nothing wrong in desiring to make life better in every possible way. Also, it needs to be noted that necessity and luxury are relative terms as it has no set parameter in the society among the people. While one might feel that a product is a luxury, it might actually be a necessity for other people. Here too the author goes on to give examples of specific individuals so as to substantiate the argument of the writing. The author opines that every person in this world is having the ambition to do better and live in a better manner. While on one hand capitalism is criticized by many, it needs to be comprehended that it is due to the consumer culture propagated by capitalism that common people get the chance to own items that would make their sustenance much better. As such, a mono-dimensional biased approach against consumerism would surely be flawed in the present day scenario. Thus, it is understandable that this article refutes the claim made by Schor in the other writing, and speaks in favor of consumerism as a need of the world society.
It would be intriguing to consider the possible conversation between the two writers with opposing views on the same matter. Schor opines in the course of writing, “The farther we get from the onerous physical conditions of the past, the more ambiguous are the effects of additional commodities.” (Schor 1) Now, this is a very strong statement to make. It goes on to talk about the fact that luxurious items are highly priced making them hard to acquire. This goes on to create a gap between the class of people who can and cannot acquire the products. On the other hand, Rockwell says, “We want better heating and cooling in our homes and businesses. We want more varieties of food, wine, cleaning products, toothpaste, and razors. We want access to a full range of styles in our home furnishing.” (Rockwell 1) This shows the intention and desire of humans to make their lives better to the utmost degree as per the monetary conditions. As such, the predominance of consumer goods in one’s life cannot be denied at all. But, in refutation of the argument by Rockwell, Schor says, “We do know that the increasing consumption of the last forty years has not made us happier.” (Schor 1) Indeed the phenomenon of consumerism and happiness having become synonymous, the parameters of getting happy have seen a transformation with time where people require more and more materialistic items to feel happy. In this way, the concept of happiness has shifted from emotional happiness from relationships and arts and aesthetics to materialism and owning consumer products. However, in stark juxtaposition to the argument against consumerism, Rockwell iterates, “Nowadays we are being told that consumption is aesthetically displeasing, and that we should strive to get back to nature, stop driving here and there, make a compost pile, raise our own vegetables, unplug our computers, and eat nuts off trees. This longing for the primitive is nothing but an attempt to cast a pleasing gloss on the inevitable effects of socialist policies.” (Rockwell 2) Thus, Rockwell speaks against the view of Schor and opines that speaking against consumer culture is nothing but propaganda of socialism that denies the right to the individual to live life as per expectations and capacity to satiate the needs. It can be comprehended that the two authors stand miles apart when it comes to having an opinion about consumerism. Rockwell defends consumerism, while Schor attacks it for being the cause of discontent among people.
Now, it has to be reckoned that consumerism is omnipresent in the present day world. There is no way one can deny its presence, but there has been debate over its utility and negative impact on the society and the people. After going through the two articles in favor and against consumerism respectively, one can very well comprehend that consumerism does provide the option for the common man to acquire materialistic things that would make life easier and more comfortable. It is the basic desire of every human to make his or her life better. As such, it is highly imperative that every man gets the choice and opportunity to gain these consumer products that surely have the potential to transform lives in an immense manner. While there can be discontent among people about not being able to acquire their desired consumer goods, nonetheless, it is true that they believe that having those goods would make life better. In an economic system that aims to satiate the needs of one and all, and in the age of globalization, consumerism would only enhance its surmounting effect with time.