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Now that's a startling claim. Outrageous even, until you see the TV video of people lined up outside a Walmart at 4AM on this famous Black Friday. Then they show the frantic shoppers, eyes glazed, rushing into the store and falling over each other to get to the "bargains" inside. They all have these ravenous, hungry looks, yet their bellies are full! And then you consider that this scene is repeated over and over at every Walmart, Target, Kmart and many others all across our Addicted United States of America. You have to see it to believe it. I saw it and I still don't believe it, but then, you start to think about Addictions and those that suffer and those that benefit from the suffering of the Addicted, and sadly a different picture starts to emerge.I don't understand the ADDICTION OF CONSUMERISM. I don't suffer from it either. I'm sure of this as I was sound asleep at 4AM this morning and I haven't been in a Walmart etc. at anytime today. And I feel none the worse nor suffer any remorse because of it. But I do understand the programming of Addiction. I can discern the Glamorizing of a particular activity so as to encourage the participation of the weak minded. But we usually only think of this going on in context of Tobacco or Alcohol products.
But this Addiction Programming is at the heart of many PR campaigns for many various products and activities in modern life. I remember the Glamorization of the Psychedelic Drugs of the 60's. The Pot and the LSD etc. Age and Wisdom has allowed me to understand who benefited from this Program. The Crack Cocaine Media Blitz of the early 80's. This campaign glamorized the idea of the street gang, easy money along with the Guns and Violence of course. Do I have to draw a picture for you for you understand just who all benefited from this campaign? It's easy enough to see who suffered and is still suffering today from it.
I think the most insidious and cunning Campaign running these days is the Glamorization of Pharmaceutical Drugs. I really don't where to begin with this one. They're selling it all, eternal youth and vigor with Viagra to the YoYo up and downs of Good and Bad Cholesterol drugs which are virtually guaranteed to keep your heart beating right up until it stops. Consumers are buying and eating all these pills in huge quantities all to the massive profit of these Pharmaceuticals and their slick and polished Madison Avenue Shills, the true masters of Addiction Programming.
There's nothing wrong with having a lifestyle. We all do whether we plan it or not. There is something wrong with allowing yourself to be convinced you need something when in reality you don't. But, I suppose here is where I would need to start a new essay on the Self Abnegation of the believer and explore their endless gullibility. So what thresh hold have I just crossed? CONSUMERISM AS RELIGION? Perhaps RELIGION AS ADDICTION? Maybe it's the BELIEVER WHO SUFFERS FROM THE ENDLESS ADDICTION? The Writer who must write, is that an addiction too? Now I'm just getting funny, or am I? Happy Holidays and may all your addictions at least bring you a smile.
