Gospel of Consumption”
As stated in the “Story of Stuff” video, we the United States are all on this vicious treadmill of wanting
and the feeling of needing of all this “stuff”. From computers, to new in style shoes/clothes to new updated cell
phones all this consumption of “stuff” is not always needed. This “stuff” is what is causing us to work so much
harder than we really need to because at the end of having all this stuff, it ends up in the trash. This “stuff” does
not go away; instead this “stuff” is harming our environment through its production all the way to consumption
just to end up as trash. That “stuff” gets transported out of site just to be burn elsewhere on our planet. In turn
those fumes from burning trash (“stuff”) are chemicals that are not only extremely harmful to our environment
but us! The Gospel of Consumption tells readers that more work does not necessarily fulfill one’s wants and
needs that many people today believe. It states that these big corporate companies created more work and
necessity for what is really not necessary if we all live a simpler way of life.
We all play a big part of consumption because we all consume and consume. For example, I try not to
shop at Costco. I feel that the more I buy the more my family will have the urge to use and consume. Therefore,
I feel the cycle continues of my husband having to work more hours to make more money so we can buy and
use more “stuff”. Negative aspects to be considered are the fact that this hurts our environment and the bigger
picture our health. This again is another cycle that hurts both us and our environment. Both people and our
environment go hand in hand. If we harm our environment we are harming ourselves and our future offspring to
come.
The redeeming aspects of this way of life to cut down on hours to have a better life are the idea that most
people would love today. However, due to our way of life, society and ongoing manipulation, most big
corporations, fear that it would cut back on production of goods and consumption of money. The redeeming
part of the blue collar workers is that yes its manipulation in many aspects. Manipulation that we need to work
more to use more and get more is manipulation. The notion of cutting back in work hours and cutting back on