I have to wonder if some of it is just plain old lazy! Why do your own when you can pay for the car wash or the manicure or other things for someone else to do it. I hate others doing my stuff for me, period! My situation is we are not allowed to use the water here outside so we have to carwash it. Manicures, it is not that hard to do ones own and I do! Eating out, my food made from scrath has always tasted better and the comments give support it.

People bought into the governments pushing this that and the other onto us as having to have this that and the other. I say government due to the having to get a converter box to watch what little TV that I do watch. They push the commercials as it is a better picture and better signal. I got the converter box (another item I did not need or did not want to purchase, but to watch what littel TV I do I am forced to buy it or not watch what little I do) and the signal is too low to pull so I am watching what little TV that I do watch the way I alwas did, and now have a new issue to deal with that was not there prior to. I have to call and find out why! Digital TV was implemented as it brings more buyers to the airwaves or whatever is used to make it work and thereby brings in more money to be made and ultimately more money to the government whether it is local or on the higher levels of taxing and buying what we did not need in the first place.

Much like anything else, consumerism is in some form or way pushed on consumers by government and secondly consumers need to have everything and anything even if they do not need it. Most of it is a want, as we all know the necessarties of life and wnts have nothing to do with needs at all.

Years ago things were too risque to be seen on TV and now it seems like there is not a whole lot that is over the top and most of it comes down to who makes the money and who sets the rules, most to all of it, ultimately in the end, is one form of government or the other. If you wwatch any of the studies that were done years ago to make consumers buy in one direction or the other you get the idea (test markets that were set up by government and others who followed under them) of how government forces consumers to buy this and that by what they allow or push onto the market. After all, who gives the OK for things to make it to market? Governement in one way or the other has a hand in it.

They say Americans are Oil hogs. Pardon me, but who allowed the manufacturers to put the gas guzzlers on the market. We, the consumer, did not design, or get permission to put these hogs on the roads, but in order to make from point A to B even for lifes necessarties we need an automobile of some sort and if all that is put on the market or mostly and it is made to look like good times and not a fall out, then what do you think consumers are going to buy? Exactly, they are going to buy what is on the market for sale. Yes, there are small cars and what if some do not believe in lining the pockets of foreigners as the oil prices always have done a good job of that already.

Think of how the Hybrids were not doing so well on the market. The government and all the news come out with this and that and the advantages, but left out the dollar cost and the having to find a place to refuel or charge and not all that was in place, and what about all the R&D that would not be paid for, so they up the price of oil per barrel and the gas price hits the roof and now the Hybrids and other small behicles are making a big hit. Well, duh, sure it did and it is just another of government forcing consumers to follow as they want consumers and people in general to. They do not like those who do not follow or it could lead to a civil war or revolt and that does not set so well. so, you manipulate and do any and all you can to keep the people in line and gollowing instead of leading. The government does not let you have or do any more than it wants you too and that is called, control, as last I knew it. Do we have to follow all of it, no. Do we have to survive one way or the other, yes. It is a matter of how or what one chooses if fortunate to do well in life that makes the difference in life as it always has and we all know, good decisions reap good rewards and bad reap bad or not so hot an outcome on the lower end!

Well that is my take on consumerism. Thanks for allowing me to voice on your blog. I enjoy reading what all have to say and usually come away with some new perspectives and advice. Keep up the good work and the good comments too. Have a great day!