The other problematic view about consumption is that many people believe that the government is trying to "seduce" and "encourage" the public to spend more if they want to be good citizens. I don't believe that the government is being malicious but instead is being very pervasive. They are very subtle about the way they offer incentives. This does not mean that they are forcing the public to spend more but to make spending a little cheaper. Nowadays many people are suffering from heavy debt and therefore the government is trying to help them out by offering these incentives. Consuming goods is not a condition for being a good citizen but it is a necessity that we all face. We have to spend to survive and live a decent life.
Citizen Competence in American Democracy
Monday, November 29, 2010
Consumers as Citizens
In class we discussed consumers as citizens but I don't think it is a condition that makes good citizens. Everyone is obligated by necessity to consume goods no matter their financial situation. Of course others consume more than others but as Laura said in class"no one can opt out from being a consumer". This is the case for all Americans. There is no other way but to consume goods whether you like it or not unless you are self-sustainable.
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I agree that class discussion brought up some interesting contradictions in our society about consumption. First, there is the problem that people buy into the idea of consumption as a patriotic duty, but they do not want unequal access to government based on wealth. Then, as we've recently seen, there are consequences when government encourages spending but blames citizens once they do so irresponsibly. I also think there is a tendency even in our individualistic culture for citizens to view government as responsible for helping them achieve their economic goals, or desired level of consumption. These paradoxes create political friction as politicians and scholars attempt to navigate the economic and political roles if citizens.
ReplyDeleteWhen we talk about consumers as citizens I think we are talking about the choices that Americans make as consumers and how these choices effect, and are affected by their community (whether you define community as the entire US, their state of residence, their county or neighborhood, etc.). Yes, we all have to consume goods to survive, but most of us have a choice of what goods to consume. We can choose to buy or not buy a product based on the effect our purchase might have on our community. I think a part of being a good citizen is thinking about how your actions impact your community instead of just yourself.
ReplyDeleteThere are obviously many sides to consumerism, but is there a chance that it is really a lot more simple than we make it out to be? When most people buy one brand of toothpaste instead of another, I don't think they consider the way in which choosing a certain brand will affect themselves, their community, etc. It may just be the case that one brand tastes better than another. On the other hand, buying products locally and supporting the Grass Roots Movement does have a big political impact- one which consumers are very aware of. In that sense, I think it depends on the individual with respect to how much politics can effect consumerism. In the end, though, we all are forced to be consumers in one way or another and I do not believe that purchasing certain goods over others is making a huge political statement. Someone may buy a Land Rover instead of a Ford, but still be extremely politically involved. The government is not trying to "trick" anyone into buying American, it is more the advertising world trying to market products for their own personal benefit. Then again- this is merely one interpretation.
ReplyDeleteI’m not quite sure how I feel about consumerism as a qualification as a good citizen. As we discussed in class, it marginalizes les advantaged citizens, excluding them based on their inability to consume as much as more advantaged citizens. However, at the same time, consumerism is important for the US economy. Without, both small businesses and large corporations suffer, directly affecting many citizens. Consequently, the better question is, should contributing to the American economy be a qualification for being a good citizen? Consumerism is not just an issue that affects the individual, but society as whole. When looked at as a morality issue, it seems that the obvious answer would be to separate consumerism and our democratic obligations. When looked at from a purely pragmatic economic standpoint, it consumption plays a very important role in citizen responsibility.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that consumerism should not be used as a category to evaluate the competency of citizens. The promotion of this idea not only further marginalizes and isolates a large proportion of the population, but it also undercuts the principles intrinsic to the foundations of our country. The apparent connection between being a good consumer and a productive citizen is ridiculous and essentially highlights elitist and hierarchical foundations as the apparent basis for American democracy. Currently, we already struggle with a strong disparity between the upper and lower socio-economic classes in terms of education, knowledge, and participation. Yes, money is inherently tied to the existing levels of disparity evidenced in the aforementioned categories. Yet by outwardly remarking that active participation in consumer activities (which we all have to do anyways) is in some way related to patriotism or being a good citizen seems as if we are selling out on American values; we have compromised the ideals of American Democracy and it just does not seem right.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the government may not be trying to be malicious in its encouragement of citizen consumers, it still—at some level—sends the wrong message. In the international relations side of the political world, economics and consumerism are used as policy tools to effectively yield ones will on another country (embargos, sanctions, etc.). Inherently, encouraging citizens to be active consumers (both quantitatively and by purchasing certain brands, items, etc.) has a coercive nature. I do not understand how the manipulative use of economics in the international political environment can be translated to a docile and productive domestic initiative to encourage citizens democratically. One’s ability to buy, spend, and sell should not be grounds for effective democratic citizenry participation.