Why do we criticize American consumerism?

             Why do we criticize American consumerism? Why is it that we as Americans who have the freedom to buy as we like, of the products we choose, in the manor that we see fit; gain such an expansive list of those who criticize the consumer environment that we as a capitalist nation have created? Is it wrong to enjoy a little conspicuous consumption, or is it hollowing out who we are for displays of wealth and greed? James Twitchell argued exactly this.

               Is capitalism the monster that Marx claimed it would become? An immediate side effect of a market of the free variety such as ours is Materialism. A never ending hunger to be defined by the things you buy, as the person you are. Twitchell did immediately agree that our culture can be blamed for “the rise of eating disorders, the epidemic of depression, the despoliation of cultural icons, the corruption of politics, the carnivalization of holy times like Christmas, and the gnat-life attention span of our youth.” (Twitchell) But he questioned that most of us would agree that we would rather take the bad with the good and live in a consumer culture than live in one quite the opposite, one of oppression of choice. This however does not mean to take materialism in with open arms because the opposite becomes so oppressed. Marx used his insight into capitalism to help the struggle against it, but he was looking at it all wrong. His efforts were to stop capitalism and its mad consumptive ways while he should have looked “to appreciate how (capitalism) works so its furious energy may be understood and exploited.” (Twitchell)

               Ultimately is it the morality of it all. The reasoning why you buy that says whether or not you have you have overcome materialism, or if it’s overcome you. We all know that just because Richard Corry had money, wealth and style, and that didn’t make him better than that factory worker; and that is exactly the point. Saying consumerism is a societal plague is scapegoating the problem beyond you. A high school kid going into college in a consumer driven society chooses his major from something he knows he will make a lot of money and therefore have a lot of spending power. He chooses a law degree or a business degree because he knows that spending power is what he wants from his job.  This kid who chooses his major for these reasons may only find happiness accidentally. He will not find happiness from this for spending money creates a short span of happiness, but cannot fill an emptiness that is there. He is chasing consumerism, he is not chasing the meaning behind what he wants to do, how he can fulfill it and how he can be fulfilled. This is the ultamate side effect of a consumerist society, but is it society’s fault, or your own for letting it happen.

Twitchell, James. "Two Cheers for Materialism." The Wilson Quarterly Spring 1999: 19+. Web.

The Richard Corry shoehorn for those who are not familiar. (http://www.lyricsfreak.com/s/simon+and+garfunkel/richard+cory_20124655.html)

---- Max Mongenas