[Ibon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smithaaren', '.') What is the cause of entire societies being driven into a buying and spending frenzy?

[Kristen]

It's quite simple, In America shopping is a temporary lift on a persons mood. It works like a drug, because the high is temporary and requires more and more ownership to reach the same happiness as before. It's reinforced by our consumer culture of status, which includes media, education and family. It has destroyed lives and will continue to do so in the near future

[Unconventional Ideas]

Good news is in the long term future, it is not likely to continue.

[prajeshbhat]

The trend is now passed on to other countries as well. Even in the countries that are the starvation capitals of the world, young people have mastered the art of spending money they don't have on stuff they don't need. Of all the -isms that have tried to take over the world, consumerism is the one true winner, hands down.

Here's a modern shopping mall in india



And here's one in Nigeria



I guess when you pull out that credit card and buy cheap stuff, you really feel like a king or a queen. You are in control of what you buy. That feeling is worth something. And the way things are going these days, you better take advantage of this opportunity while it lasts. You may never get a second chance in your life once you go broke.

[WildRose]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ibon', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smithaaren', '.') What is the cause of entire societies being driven into a buying and spending frenzy?

[rangerone314]

LOL. So much am I the opposite of coming anywhere near to appreciating that stuff. Or keeping up with the Joneses.

[Quinny]

Our (current) role in the western world is to consume. Can't go on for much longer though. How long can we make a living out of opening doors for each other?

[dolanbaker]

100 years ago, something like 10% of the population was in "service", working & often living in the big houses of the wealthy.
It was WWI and the depression of the 1930s, but principally mechanisation of the household chores that changed that.
The first one created a labour shortage, the second one a money shortage and the third reduced the need for labour at all.

[Quinny]

The problem now is that the vast majority of us are in the 'service' industry. If you look at the % of people employed making useful stuff including food it's miniscule, so the rest of us are paid to provide 'services' to others be those public or private sector. Our productive capacity has therefore become largely irrelevant and our role as consumers has therefore become the way we are valued/ get fulfillment.

[AgentR11]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Quinny', 'O')ur (current) role in the western world is to consume. Can't go on for much longer though. How long can we make a living out of opening doors for each other?

[rangerone314]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AgentR11', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Quinny', 'O')ur (current) role in the western world is to consume. Can't go on for much longer though. How long can we make a living out of opening doors for each other?

[AgentR11]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rangerone314', 'A') good hypothesis, but it does rest on the assumption that those in power are capable of much better judgement than those who were in power in much older civilizations, like Rome or Persia or the Byzantines. I've seen little to warrant such faith in their judgment.