In recent class discussions, and according to recent class materials, there are a plethora of issues associated with American consumerism. Charges against America include exploitation of resources, externalized costs, and blatant disregard for the well-being of foreign peoples harmed b the creation or disposal of American goods.
These may be legitimate problems, yet I take issue with such sensationalist reporting as Annie Leonard’s video. When Leonard leveled her charges, she pointed the finger of blame at the government. While the government may have some harmful policies, Leonard fails to apply blame where it would have done the most good.
Leonard paints the American government as an evil capitalist machine that is taking advantage of the American people. Leonard depicts a vicious cycle in which advertisers force the American people to buy more products by making them think that their stuff is inferior. However, no one is forcing Americans to buy. Leonard turns the American public into victims, but are we really?
Leonard’s video is just another step in the quest to take personal responsibility away from the American public. But here, personal responsibility would probably be more constructive than victimization. Leonard should have charged the American public to be more careful in their consumption. Rather than relying on the government to fix everything, Americans should research the products they buy, and only buy those that were made ethically, thereby reducing demand for mass produced exploitative products. Americans have the power to force corporations to be more ethical in their treatment of foreign commodities. Frankly, Leonard’s victimization of Americans is insulting and pointless.
-JB
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Jess, I go agree with you in that Annie Leonard seems to solely blame the government for the cyclical capitalist system and that is probably not completely accurate. I think that Annie Leonard should express a little more faith in the ability of the American consumer to make his/her own decision and not rely solely on what the government encourages them to do. Although you make a good point in stating that the video downplays (at the very least) the responsibility of the American public, I do feel that is a combined responsibility. You pose the suggestion that Americans should do some research and only buy products that were made ethically. I believe many Americans might make that much effort, but if the ethical-version of the product they desire is not easily found, I can see many Americans giving up and giving in to their old ways out of convenience. I think that the government also needs to do its part and make ethically made products more available.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you that the people should not be portrayed as victims but should have some responsibility in what we consume. The American way is to consume. That is how our economy runs by spending whether it is frivolously or in a conscious way. American people should take some consideration in what they buy to help save and not have things wasted. On the other hand, if everyone were to do this the economy would have slowed down even more a long time ago due to a lower amount of consumption. We are a purely capitalistic society driven by consumption. Many companies around the world depend on American consumers to buy things so they can keep producing and making money. If we take time to search for companies that ethically make products, it will take away from our time to do other things, which is a turn off for many people. This will also kill of many companies that help raise tax money for the economy. There are two valid sides to this argument. The people should look for companies that don’t unethically make product for the welfare of the world. Also, Americans must keep consuming to drive our economy.
ReplyDelete