86310 working with "Green Guilt" by kris johnson

Consumerism has and always will be extremely prevalent in our society now and going forward. Consumerism is a social and economic order and legitimate ideology that stresses the importance of acquiring different goods and services from other places around the world and within our own society in ever-increasing amounts as a means to keep society functioning. Consumerism “like every other ism, has the potential for dogmatic zeal and obsession” (29). The reason this quote is relevant for this action is our society is because we are very dependent on different parts of the United States as well as the world for goods and services. When people are dependent on one groups specific outsourcing that then gives the group leverage. From that leverage stems the greed. They will over charge on the pricing because of that leverage. Conversely the groups hoping to be on the receiving end will get desperate and from that desperation stems the obsession so they will go out of their way to get all the goods or go over their own resources for it. This two sides cycle makes for a very unhealthy development on the two sides. Even now in today’s society where it is frowned upon to not make the new involvements to go green that leads to greater consumerism problems. For example, if you do not want to buy the tote bags because of the money cost people will elicit a “religious sin” (27) because you do not want to go green and you do not have money to spend for nice bags. It is a double whammy. Consumerism is necessary in today’s society but can also be poisonous.