From: Arlo J. Bensinger (ajb102@psu.edu)
Date: Sun Oct 09 2005 - 22:20:41 BST
THIS IS A REPOST, SORRY IF IT ENDS UP DUPLICATING
Greetings Khaled,
[you wrote] Just when I think about quitting the forum, you change my mind.
Excellent response.
[Arlo] Don't leave! I can assure you I get just as much (if not more) enjoyment
from reading your posts. In addition to a unique, and critical, cultural
perspective that is otherwise lacking in the forum, I've found your posts to be
insightful, articulate and usually "spot on" (as the Brits say). I have found,
sadly, that like-minded participants to the forum tend not to interact as often
as do opposition posts. And so it easy to come to feel "out there" by yourself.
I'm just as guilty of that as anybody, but I do think its important to chime in
in agreement now and then. There were a few times I felt frustrated when, for
example, Mark's (MSH), Ant's and Ian's comments brought me back. I guess the
short answer is, I would not be the only one who'd miss your insights.
[you wrote] The consumerism issue you bring up is rather a frightening one and
is rather one of the fundamental problems this nation faces. The waste of
resources is one, and the financial burden is another.
[Arlo] Absolutely agree. It is a psychological manipulation of "pleasure" with
the ends to solidify wealth for a few, while the great many go further and
further into debt. Sadly, it is self-stroking, because the "pleasure" brought
by consumption is fleeting, and need to be "fixed" again and again and again.
I was watching "The Mind of Mencia" the other night, and although he was trying
to be funny, he made the observation that the "military invasion" of Iraq was
only the tip of a bigger iceberg. He said, "if you thought that was something,
look at the horizon... see what's coming... Walmart! In less than a year kids
are going to be pestering their parents for 'Nike Turbans' and 'Mohammed action
figures'." That's not quite verbatim, but you get the jist. And you know what,
its true.
[you wrote] You enter the grocery store, and there lies the Loaf of rainbow
white bread. Yummy. Oh by the way, on your way out don't forget to pick that
bottle of Metamucil laxative. See they take the goodness out of the wheat, and
resell it to us in another package.
[Arlo] Yup. And this is near and dear to my heart. Here in Central Pennsylvania,
several years ago we decided to buy into a local organic farm's coop (called a
CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)). This farm offers eggs, livestock and
chickens, and bread, all organic, all natural, all free range. We decided to
give up prepackaged and processed foods to the best of our ability, and cook
from the "ground up" at least 90% of the time (our target). It was hard to
break the habit, but once we did we wondered why we ever valued all that
prepackaged, chemical-laden, vitamin depleted crap in the first place. But look
at the marketing, the near constant barrage of commercials that are designed to
*make* you want a product. Not advertise a product neutrally so you know its
out there if you should happen to need it. No, the goal is the use of
psychological tactics to "manufacture need".
[you wrote] Here where I live in Fresno, we have more places to-- cash checks or
get an advance on your next paycheck-- than we have bank branches. Yes people
do pay close to $25 to get $200. By the way, they are cashing those checks so
they can go to the nearest "gaming center". And the vicious cycle continues.
[Arlo] Oh these examples are more common than Bush's vacation days. Consider the
"lower" interest rates people with wealth pay for home loans, for debt
consolidation. If you are poor, you have to pay more for the same thing. Gee,
that makes sense. Or, to use one example talked about in The Rugged Trousered
Philanthropists, and one that harkens back to Platt's assertion that the
"wealthy" preserve Quality, everyone knows that higher Quality boots although
having a greater upfront cost, cost less in the long run because they last and
last. Poor quality boots fall apart and have to be replaced often. Poor people
who can't afford to pay the high upfront costs for high Quality boots, end up
*paying more* for boots over the years because they have to keep rebuying them.
Poor people who manage to own homes, generally own low quality homes, that
cost more to heat. You talked about food, poor people generally have to buy
only the lowest quality foods, cheap crap filled with chemicals and
preservatives. The farm of which we are member has a half dozen memberships it
fills each season with low income citizens at no cost (the rest of us make up
the difference, which I am happy to do). It also donates all surplus or
unclaimed food each week to the local foodbank. But this is because the farm's
owners place a greater value on something other than wealth. Sadly, this is
rare. (Last season they needed a barn painted (where the house winter crops
awaiting distribution, and asked for members with some time to help. They had
to turn people away, so many showed up. You get what you give in life, they are
richer than anyone I know.) Anyways, didn't mean to ramble. I just took a
small tangent in my reply to Platt, must be the tea I've been drinking to keep
the wet, cold rain at bay.
Arlo
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