Consumerism: Can't Live With it, Can't Live Without It.

Consumerism is a disease, and we're all infected with it. Too harsh? I'll start over. We've learned to buy without consequence. We see something we want. Corporations tell us we need it, so we buy it. In reality, the likelihood that we actually need the newest version of our favorite smartphone, or those two-wheeled hover boards that are impossible to balance on, is very slim. Subconsciously, we know we don't need these things, so why do we buy them anyway? That's easy. We want them! Through mindful marketing, corporations convince us that our wants are just as important as needs. We become zombies. The capitalist system makes sure we remain in an endless loop. We buy, we see an ad, we buy more. Advertisements are carefully constructed to appeal to every age group, more races, differing political views. The list goes on. The funnier the ad, the catchier the slogan, the more recognizable the logo or popular the brand, the more likely you are to buy the product.  Think about this. There are actual downloadable apps that test your knowledge of name brands. Provided with a shape of a logo, you must input the proper brand name to advance to the next level. This is a display of how much consumerism runs our lives. What's ironic is that while we indulge in our wants, we forget about needs, or even the needs of others. Something else to think about: The Superbowl. Besides of course the football, hundreds of thousands of people tune in to watch the outrageous ads during the commercial breaks. This incredibly televised sports event is a marketing team's dream. Here's where the irony hits. While we enjoy silly ads and eat finger sandwiches, the losing team's Superbowl shirts are being shipped off to a third world country in need of clothing. To say that consumerism is not beneficial to the stimulation of our economy would be a mistake. However, when it rules over most of the decisions we make, it can be blinding to other, more important real world issues.