I was looking for one of my old blogs and this came up in the search and it caught my attention. It’s very interesting that there are other people who feel some of the same things I do that most people take for granted or are not even aware of.

I need to read the entire original post in this blog. You may be able to help me in a book I am currently proposing.

I also hate being called a “consumer.” It is such a redundant term in that everybody is a consumer. Albeit, why not just call everybody, “human beings?”

You are right about the media’s designation of what a consumer is. It certainly differs from the general term that denotes what all living beings do. But the small part of your post I did read where it says, “Consumers are organic life forms with credit cards or, optionally, cash, who exist solely to collect a paycheck, buy things at stores, and occasionally get married and have little consumers.”

I did not read the whole statement but it makes me laugh! Over all, it probably isn’t funny, but why I laugh…you said what I think! You gave it words for a feeling I didn’t have! That was great!

I don’t know what you may have said about the following but to me, the “consumer classes” is analogous to “working classes.” I’ve seen it described as “sleeping sheep.” There’s a whole lot more to this than I could ever write in this post.

I would like to get to know you and maybe we discuss this further. This is a “silent” plight that is going on everywhere about us. I have never wanted any part of being considered just a another one from the masses. I certainly do not enjoy a life of mediocrity and I have written much on this.

This was certainly unexpected results in my search but I’m very happy to have found this blog.

Daniel Euergetes

If everyone reduced their spending and started saving, there would be some short-run economic disruption. All those people who make TVs, etc, would lose their jobs. But there would be more funds available for investment, growing the economy more. And people would meet their savings targetts and then start spending again, but thanks to economic growth they’d be able to do so at a higher level. If you like, think of the increased spending as being on health care, the arts, environment, etc, rather than plasma-screen TVs.

If everyone decided not to consume much, then the economy would be smaller, but people would be happier (according to revealed preferences). So no problem for an economist.

In the short-run, these things matter for predicting the economy over the next few years.

But the stuff doesn’t last. It’s consumed. It’s gone. That’s probably what bothers me about the label “consumer.”

That’s life. We’re all going to die. That doesn’t mean that what we do with the temporary life we have is unimportant.

Some questions for you: Where do you go when you’re getting out more? Given that your life is a lot more exciting than mine (not that difficult, frankly!) how much of it revolves around commercial entertainment? Do you weigh the options about what you’re spending to do that? Or do you just go out and have a good time? Where did that response originate from? I’m not judging you for going out and having a good time, but instead questioning where our predispositions come from.

Maybe you should stop caring what the media “labels” you. Frankly, I don’t care what they say, nor do I feel as if the collective term “consumer” applies to me.

If you feel that the label “consumer” implies it is your duty and responsibility to spend and help the economy….you need to get out more and stop caring what other people think of you

I remember the post 9/11 comment you speak of.

Your last question is a good one. If we find the answer we might be able to achieve a lot of things. I start looking for the answer by noting that there are different places to tap into the economy besides walking up to a cash register.

I think the use of the term is just a symptom of something bigger… but phasing out the term would certainly be a step in the right direction. “Consumer” suggests that the primary role of everyday people is to buy products and fuel the economy. What’s a term that says that the economy is something we can tap into to serve us in building respsonsible, fulfilling lives?