"Life in this country is good, for a large percentage of the population. If a family wants to improve its level of material affluence, access good public education and health care, or consume a variety of recreational and retail opportunities, this is a great place to live. The downside to living here, however, is that it is difficult to escape the negative effects of consumerism.
"Consumerism is a pervasive spirit that orients our deepest affections toward the personal possession of things. When under the spell of consumerism, it seems, we become much like the fictional character Gollum, the dark side of the split persona, Gollum-Smeagol, in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. In one moment, we are Smeagol, captivated by warm thoughts and selfless sentiments like friendship and love. In the next instant, we transform into Gollum and become obsessed with possession The Precious.
"Consumerism teaches us that pursuing The Precious -- which could represent any thing what we feel we must possess for our own -- is of primary importance. What matters most is purchasing a house with a large amount of square footage and consuming fashionable clothing, stylish vehicles, good-tasting and ready-made food, and fun activities. I have not yet mentioned the sports culture that consumes our time, energy, and money on a mass scaled. But again, consumerism is not about the things that we consume or the wide variety of goods and services that are available for purchase. Consumerism is about the mindless orientation of our deepest affections toward things we want to possess."
Questions: Is this a fair assessment of consumerism in our culture? Does Gollum accurately portray what happens to us when we are under the spell of consumerism? Other thoughts and comments?
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