The economical system is based on consumerism?

Question

Do you believe this is a contradiction?

Answer 1

Some people think abundance is impossible to attain or maintain. Whether you live in a small town or a city, economic contradictions erode our security and the ability to make choices.

Consumerism manifests economically in the chronic (and some say "pathological") purchasing of goods and services with very little attention to their true need, durability, product origin or the environmental consequences of excessive means of production and irresponsible distribution.

Consumerism, driven by unimaginable quanties of (laundered?) money spent on advertising, manipulation and disinformation is designed to create conformity to fads and marketing trends. Personal self-reward systems are based on acquisition and materialism.

Answer 2

Nope. Without consumers you don't have an economic system. You pretty much don't have anything. So I don't understand all the concern over "consumerism". Show me a living being and I'll show you a consumer. Ghost and spirits might survive without material goods, but flesh and blood humans need food, and shelter to survive. Take away the profit motive and you won't have near enough, food and shelter to go around. Because before you can have consumerism you've got to have productionism. I think we're getting a little carried away with all these isms.

Answer 3

Consumerism describes a facet of capitalism... Capitalism is the best description of our economic system here in the US. So, while I don't think they describe the same thing, there is no contradiction there.