Reflection+The+American+Consumer

The American Consumer

=REFLECTION THE AMERICAN CONSUMER =

Americans are know for being a consumer culture. The pictures of the different families around the world and the amount of money that they spend on food say something about our culture in regard to other cultures around the world. We are known to spend more money on food that is more processed and unhealthy. Although this is not true for every american family it is certainly true for most. This wastefulness and carelessness that is described by the Great Gastby quote, is something that people around the world see when they look at Americans. Americans are so luck to have so many resources at their disposal but with these great amounts of resources comes great responsibility not to be wasteful. The rest of the world often feel that Americans squander the oppertunity to be leaders, when they do not set the example of serious preservation of natural resources and recycling programs. The Article American Wastefulness was written in 1867, which helps to explain how our image of being wasteful has been an everlasting one. The golden arch of McDonald's is often equated with the American culture, along with many other consumer goods. American consumer goods that are exported all around the world become the symbol of the United States. It is important for the United States to have a culture that is beyond consumer goods and material things, but a culture based off of more meaningful ideas. As we develop into a more techonological world it seems more and more difficult everyday to not become absorbed in material things.