Could most people who live in rich countries like Australia or the USA lead lives that were just as good and/or happy (perhaps more good and/or happy) with less?
Consumerism is what America thrives on. Advertisements for things we don’t need but are forced into thinking we have a need for. The constant degradation of our self image in order to support companies that supply us with the things we can put on our face or do to our bodies to look the way we think we should. The mass of the profit in todays society is the money made off of unnecessary things deemed important. There is a constant cycle of advertising the “newest and greatest,” the people not having it, the desire to make more money in order to get this newest and greatest thing, the people purchasing this thing, and the advertisement of the next newest and greatest thing. You see, by the time the people get that newest trend, it has already changed therefore in turn society is literally being manipulated like a puppet on strings to run around in circles chasing the unattainable. So could most people who live in rich countries like Australia or the USA lead lives that were just as good and/or happy with less? The companies doing the selling say no, but the hidden answer is yes.
The increase in prosperity is not making humans happier or healthier, according to several studies. Findings from a survey of life satisfaction in more than 65 countries indicate that income and happiness tend to track well until about $13,000 of annual income per person. After that, additional income appears to produce only modest increments in self-reported happiness. People are incurring debt and working longer hours to pay for the high-consumption lifestyle, consequently spending less time with family, friends, and community organizations.
Hidden behind L’Oreal’s skin tightening product, GNC’s muscle mass gainer, and Gucci’s push to get you to buy the new $3000 sneakers, are companies whose sole existence relies on the marketing of you believing your skin isn’t already tight, or muscles not already big enough, or the false idea that one needs a Gucci tennis shoe to be worthy. That direct reliance marketing has on the creation of faux insecurities proves that we already are enough- our skin is tight enough but they want you to think it needs to be tighter, your muscles are big enough but why not make them bigger? And your most comfortable tennis shoes are far more valuable than a ridiculously overpriced sneaker from a designer label. We can be just as happy with less if we were to realize that “less” is not the equivalent to lacking nor suffering, “less” simply goes hand in hand with the appreciation of what you already have.
“As consumerism spreads, Earth suffers. Approximately 1.7 billion people worldwide now belong to the ‘consumer class’—the group of people characterized by diets of highly processed food, desire for bigger houses, more and bigger cars, higher levels of debt, and lifestyles devoted to the accumulation of non-essential goods” says Hillary Mayell a writer for National Geographic. The insecurities societies target have a direct correlation with residing detriments to our environment. "Rising consumption has helped meet basic needs and create jobs," says president of Worldwatch Institute Christopher Flavin, “But as we enter a new century, this unprecedented consumer appetite is undermining the natural systems we all depend on, and making it even harder for the world's poor to meet their basic needs.” The simple purchase of a skin tightening cream, muscle enhancer, or Gucci sneakers doesn’t seem to be directly effect our environment however the toll of production of these productions on the environment and the detriments fast fashion has on the pollution of our world and minds. The toll our Earth takes comes out of our water supplies, natural resources, and the ecosystems that of which have become flooded with plastic and cheaply made goods that lead us to a “throw away” mentality (National Geographic).
Majority of the environmental issues we see today can be linked to consumption. For example, climate change is very closely related to the impact that we as humans put out onto this planet. Items that were once viewed as as luxuries have shifted to become viewed as necessities such as cell phones computers, air conditioning, and so on. These luxuries are just that- luxuries, and the sooner and more people that reinforce that in their day to day thinking the more like minded people we have on the side of pro-environment and anti-over consumption.
So once again could most people who live in rich countries like Australia or the USA lead lives that were just as good and/or happy with less? And the answer is yes, we as a species do not need creams, sneakers, or Lamborghinis to account for our happiness. We are more than capable of being “happy with less” and it’s because that “less” is the greatest give we were given, far more valuable than any pair of Gucci sneakers. That “less” is this Earth, the water it gives us, the air it allows us to breath, and the life it provides us to live. The real luxuries do not cost 3000 dollars- you don’t see an advertisement telling you to go breathe, go sleep, or be happy- because the true things we need aren’t for sale.
Citation
Mayell, H. (2018, July 26). As Consumerism Spreads, Earth Suffers, Study Says. Retrieved November 06, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2004/01/consumerism-earth-suffers/