What has the world come to? This is an upsetting and overwhelming question that has entered my thoughts often. Though I’m no exception to contributing to consumerism(the belief that the buying and selling of large quantities of consumer goods is beneficial to an economy as sign of economic strength), I agree with the anti-consumerism movement. Sure, we may never regress back to the days where consumerism was at a minimum because we don’t live in “Pleasantville,” but I feel we could better our lives by recognizing and changing our bad consumerism habits. If only we took the time to realize that we spend so much time working, away from our families, just so we can afford unnecessary objects that may never be of useful value anyways.
Anti-consumerists focus on the idea that if we worked less and spent more time enjoying simple things, like spending time with friends and family, we wouldn’t have to spend so much money on homes and the junk we fill them with. Therefore any items you had would be of more important value, and without the purchases of these unnecessary objects, homes could be smaller and more affordable.
Anti-consumerists also focus on the outcomes consumerism has on the environment. Our environment is suffering because of our careless ideas that we need to constantly buy to be happy. The land being used to build more companies and factories could be used for crops that could feed more people, and the pollution coming from these factories may eventually lead to our world being a filthy and resource-less place.
I still feel strongly that if people recognized the affects of consumerism, they might try to make a difference. A quote from an anonymous person says, "You work in a job you hate, to buy stuff that you don't need, to impress people that you don't like" (Unknown). Isn’t this true though? So many Americans complain daily about their jobs, however, they work to have money to buy things, and for what? To fill a void they think can be filled by consuming products that serve only a materialistic purpose. Most people have heard the saying, “Money can’t buy happiness.” This is true, because in the end, all money really seems to do is create sadness and regret.
If people could take baby steps to being anti-consumerists, they could learn to enjoy simpler things in life; the less we have, the more value it holds, and the more appreciation we have for things.
To find out more about anti-consumerism and how we can take steps to become anti-consumerists, go to: http://www.verdant.net
Anti-consumerists focus on the idea that if we worked less and spent more time enjoying simple things, like spending time with friends and family, we wouldn’t have to spend so much money on homes and the junk we fill them with. Therefore any items you had would be of more important value, and without the purchases of these unnecessary objects, homes could be smaller and more affordable.
Anti-consumerists also focus on the outcomes consumerism has on the environment. Our environment is suffering because of our careless ideas that we need to constantly buy to be happy. The land being used to build more companies and factories could be used for crops that could feed more people, and the pollution coming from these factories may eventually lead to our world being a filthy and resource-less place.
I still feel strongly that if people recognized the affects of consumerism, they might try to make a difference. A quote from an anonymous person says, "You work in a job you hate, to buy stuff that you don't need, to impress people that you don't like" (Unknown). Isn’t this true though? So many Americans complain daily about their jobs, however, they work to have money to buy things, and for what? To fill a void they think can be filled by consuming products that serve only a materialistic purpose. Most people have heard the saying, “Money can’t buy happiness.” This is true, because in the end, all money really seems to do is create sadness and regret.
If people could take baby steps to being anti-consumerists, they could learn to enjoy simpler things in life; the less we have, the more value it holds, and the more appreciation we have for things.
To find out more about anti-consumerism and how we can take steps to become anti-consumerists, go to: http://www.verdant.net
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