Consumerism Cannot Buy Us Happiness

Does increasing wealth guarantee a life without unhappiness? Some would argue that wealth, or lackthereof, determine people's moods. Which may be the case, the more money that goes into our pockets, the more forgetful of the worlds problems we seem to become. The "American Dream" has been around for years... and over these years it has morphed into a seeming race to prosperity, no longer does it mean to live in a free world, with free enterprise and the ability to accumulate respect and wealth for as much time and hard work you put in, and the ability to house and support your family... no, for some it is merely a phrase that describes the seemingly "ultimate" goal of accummulating as much wealth as possible, any which way, including corrupt business' and the like... only to buy expensive vehicles, and houses to show others your position in life, no longer being satisfied that you were able to get as far as you did by your own will.

Manufacturers target American consumers very aggressively. They will try and sell their product any way they can, legally. Ad campaigns as far back as the 20's manipulated Americans' deepest emotions to influence their spending. But, if consumerism doesn't equal happiness, then why hasn't anything changed? Electronic transfers of money, and credit cards have made consumer goods and services available on demand. Shopping malls, the telephone and the internet deliver instant gratification to the "wants" of every American consumer. Instant gratification reinforces the behaviors that form the basis of the "work and spend" cycle. The fact that we live in a consumer-oriented society, where workers willingly take on more over-time to pay (which is rarely given out) for a material lifestyle, that in many cases, is fed by abundant credit, and, unfortunately, immediate gratification of consumer's "wants" comes at a terrible cost; and happiness, although it may be there, has a good chance of not lasting as long as predicted, and many Americans find themselves over-working just to pay off major loans and credit cards for years.

Studies have shown that Americans are not necessarily any happier today than they were 60 years ago, even though productivity in the US has doubled since 1948. Employers pay workers the amount they produce in higher wages, the more they produce, or the better they are at a certain thing, the more money they are liable to get for their skill. work/spend/work/spend cycle fueling consumerism may very well be the end of Nature itself, threatening ecological balance. The more corporations and street blocks we have to build to house them, the more trees are cut down, the more ecocide in general. Increasing funds from the increase in productivity has greatly influenced US society, but has lasting satisfaction been experienced by most Americans? Professor of Sociology at Boston College, Juliet Schor, argues that the consumerist life style can not create a lasting satisfaction; the consumer may not be aware that they derive their happiness from their relative status... once again, reflecting off of society and juding herself based on others losses and gains.This work cycle helps to structure the consumer's time and defines social norms. People's deepest psychological needs are affected & effected through consumerism, and it is this "quality" of happiness that millions of people have experienced.

This material lifestyle has been around for decades, and it doesn't appear to be losing any of its steam... on the contrary, it's growing at a vast rate and enveloping more peoples lives every day. What keeps the wheels of this society turning? The hunger to be "at the top" has certainly helped develop this country into what it is today, or have these people missed the point entirely?" Consumerism is a seemingly vicious cycle that holds an integral part in the way American society functions.

By Marlon Friday