A new study by researchers from four universities has shown that feeling blue could trigger self-centeredness (unless you are already self-absorbed) and a willingness to overspend without even being aware of it. Yes, sadness can trigger extravagance. These sad big spenders think they will feel better about themselves if they spend more than they normally would on an item. Some may even feel they are worthless, so they are willing to pay more for something in order to feel better about themselves. Over time, it adds up, and then buyer's remorse sets in. "Oh my god, did I really need those $500.00 shoes? I thought at the time if I could have them I would look better and feel better, but that never really happened and I am still sad." Of course, the advertising industry knows that we live in a culture that encourages people to consume more to feel better. After all, "You deserve a break today at McDonald's" " Because you're worth it." It's "Me First and the Gimme Gimmees."(Mr. Dottie tells me that's actually the name of a band)Our President wants to stimulate consumer spending with an economic stimulus package, which has been approved by Congress. I am not an expert in economics, and this plan might provide short term relief for some people or businesses, but shouldn't the government be encouraging people to save money for long term results? The current stimulus package, which would give govt. payments to most American households, does not focus on supporting our neediest of citizens, which I think is more pressing an issue than ensuring that the rich people don't lose their investments.
There are more "stimulating" things in life than spending money, and what is sad is that I believe our President has set the moral tone for this country. Remember when he told us to go shopping? And now, I can see at a local level here in Allentown that city revitalization has focused on spend, spend, spend. Ignore the poor people. Ignore the inner city youth who are poor and need more educational and mentoring programs so they stay out of gangs. Are we really feeling better, or just more self-absorbed?
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10 comments:
Where did you get that photo of Damien Brown? It looks like a posed studio shot ...
I did not intend for the pic to be so large. Oh well. I can't figure out how to reduce it!
It's a sad mime.
As individuals we spend to temporarily escape sadness. It is our reward for getting through the day. As a country we tend to do the same thing.
I watch HGTV on Sundays, First Time Homebuyers. I see a lot of couple buy that first home because, they HAVE to have that bigger bathroom with the hot tub and HAVE to have that home in the mountains. I see them sign for the "interest only" loans on closing. They only see the initial monthly payments. They don't focus on how old they will be when finish paying their house.
Our elected official have a similar myopic view. They encourage us to spend to artificially boost the economy. They do not wish to directly address the problems that are that adversely affecting the economy (such as the war, the mortgage crisis, and the trickle down economics). They just want to look good on paper so that when election time comes they will be elected again. I'm also willing to bet gas prices will stay steady until after the election.
Thanks for commenting Z, I agree.
I think so many people are living way beyond their means. And I see so many new homes being built that are so BIG and seem so wasteful. Do people really need that much space? Don't they care about the environment?
The short term stimulus package may address the symptom, but not the deeper problem of gross social inequality in this country. And of course the war is such a huge drain on our economy. John Edwards had some good ideas about programs to help the needy and the working poor.
When we hear news the economy is growing, it is without wage gains, so how can that be an accurate measure of how people are doing?
I don't think people are saying the economy is doing well now. That would be like saying it's sunny when, it's downpouring. They were saying it was doing well until December when the Dow Jones kept tanking.
Unfortunately, I believe we're in a holding pattern until November. We need people who can address economic problems directly, not with tax cuts.
I couldn't agree more with this post Dottie.
Michael Kinsley wrote a great essay in TIME magazine a few weeks ago about spending. You can check it out here:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1706769,00.html
my favorite quote, which nicely sums up the argument, "My gripe is that telling Americans they need to borrow and spend just a little bit more to get us past this recession—and then reform their ways—is like telling an alcoholic he needs one more drink before sobering up."
LOLV,
Thanks for the TIME link, I will check it out. Great quote!
The band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is, in fact, fantastic. They do covers only and albums are themed. Made up of members of successful "Fat Wreck Chords" bands.
Learn more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me_first_and_the_gimme_gimmes
http://www.myspace.com/gimmegimmes
xoxo,
Roxy Moron
Thanks Roxy Moron, I'll check it out.
LOLV said...
my favorite quote, which nicely sums up the argument, "My gripe is that telling Americans they need to borrow and spend just a little bit more to get us past this recession—and then reform their ways—is like telling an alcoholic he needs one more drink before sobering up."
Sun Feb 10, 06:27:00 PM 2008
Hi LOLV, you don't know how good you have it. Remember the gas lines in 1973? when you had to wait in line at a gas station for 2 hours to get $5 of gas?? and you could only go on odd or even days depending on the last number of your licence plate. 1980... Home morgages were 15 percent. Now they are 6 percent and you people are crying like the world is going to end. The stock market goes up 10 percent a year and when it drops back two percent you young kids think the world is ending. :):) the funny thing is that the joke is on you :):).
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