Ok. To return to a previous post I promised to elaborate on... The quote was actually, that the world is no longer rules by nation-states, or political entities, but is now run by corporations, which is the ultimate expression of how we're ruled by this thing called consumerism.
One way we see this is the way that elections are now basically won by the purchasing power of the campaign advertising machine. (Ok - humor my preachiness for just a second) There's little substance in the whole process, and for the most part, folks feel disenfranchised by the whole voting/election enchilada. And guess who will end up beholden to the money machine that put them in office? Hmmm... A good example of this is shown in a recent movie starring Robin Williams - "Man of the Year", where a fluke in a rigged election causes a comic to be elected president. It's not nearly as funny as I thought it would be, as it's just too close to being reality.
And we find corporations like Wal Mart using the almighty dollar to shape politics. From the local scene, by basically forcing themselves on communities who don't want them there, by 'buying" zoning restructurings that allow big stores near residential areas, To the state and federal scene by keeping unions from making a foothold in their employee ranks by strongarm tactics and even closing stores where unions have bene introduced, under the guise of "profit" management.
It's the same old "Man" disguised now not in the red, white, and blue of american patriotism, but is now clothed in shades of green.
But the problem isn't the system, it's us. We've bought the idea that we're somehow entitled to three cars, a 4000 aquare foot home, and a pool in the backyard. We've swallowed it, hook, line, and sinker.
This season there has been a series of commercials by a not to be named car company that rhymes with Boy-ota. The owners of perfectly good (at least seemingly so) automobiles are devising various ways to crash, burn, drown, and otherwise destroy their current car so that they have an excuse to buy a new one. Every time I see it - I think "Why?" and then remember that it was not too long ago that I wouldn't even begin to be able to look at a commercial from that kind of critical angle.... And I still seem to find myself "stuck" in that same mindset in other ways.
So I think it's important to keep trying to bust out of the shell that our culture is trying to squeeze us into. Unforunately, I think we've been so brainwashed that money and by association, political power, is the "way to get things done", that we're even rife to accept those tactics in our religious institutions. Donors threaten to pill money from educational institutions that allow "heretical" teaching. American Family Associations constant tirade of boycots against companies that promote the "gay" agenda, drugs, and a number of other non "family" values. And by accepting this kind of thing as the norm, even in the most sacred of circles, we eventually can't even see that by doing so, we've accepted the message that might is right.
Sadly, the only real opposition to this particular culture's hostile corporate takeover of the entire globe is a few shieks in the Middle East who control the precious oil supply, and force us into constant submission to their will. No wonder we hate them so much.
For a much more detailed look at this see:
http://www.amedeofelix.com/consumed.html
