We’ve Been Talking About The Attacks.  Now Let’s Talk About Something Equally Disturbing.  

    In the wake of the World Trade Center attacks, the media is rife with non-stop coverage of the incident.  Today, as I spent close to one hour in traffic, I was listening to a talk radio host tell the citizens of Los Angeles to not let the attacks stop us from supporting our national economy.  Specifically, he said “Don’t stop buying stuff.”  This statement struck me as not only asinine, but extremely irresponsible.  
    The very idea that “buying more” will support the economy suggests that a healthy economy relies on strong corporate power, even if the average citizen lives in penury due to his purchasing of worthless goods.  In other words, it seems to matter more that Nordstrom's and PepsiCo are reaping immense profits than myself or you being able to afford to eat, buy gas and pay rent.
    The effect of overconsumption is not hidden knowledge restricted to elite scientists, either.  The rest of the globe knows it is paying through its blood for our love affair with Ford F-150 trucks, two-pound steaks, and shopping sprees at the mall.  For every family that supports Disneyland with their money there is another family on the streets of Rio De Janeiro, Bombay, or Mexico City that scrounges for loose change.  For every USC sorority girl who spends a thousand dollars in Vegas, there is a street girl in the Philippines who wishes she had a future outside of prostitution or begging.  For every quarter pound hamburger eaten, fifty-five square feet of rainforest is cut somewhere in the tropics.
    We first-worlders don’t seem to care too much about anything except our lifestyles and our pocketbooks.  For many of us, democracy is the freedom to choose what brand to buy.  This article is meant to maybe get some of you, those who wonder about the rest of the world or the effects of our actions upon this fragile earth, to take one step in reducing your consumption.  Ask yourself each time you buy a CD, buy clothing, eat out or drive somewhere whether you really want to or need to, or if there is a more responsible alternative. You don’t have to stop buying things altogether, but you can lessen your purchasing.  And perhaps then we can witness the positive effects of positive thought and action, coupled.  Peace.