I agree with your criticisms and at the same time I cringe when I think of shopping at certain companies and avoid it whenever possible. I try to buy union down to my toothpaste.
There is an aspect of how do I bear witnesses to my beliefs. It may not move mountains but it settles my soul to try to live in economic consistency with my values and sense of solidarity.
We can live these two types of truths without confusing one for the other.
Americans comprise 4.5% of the world's population and yet consume 25% of its resources. Clearly this is unjust. We Americans need to learn the word "degrowth". Our wants are unsustainable for both the planet and the global South. Our planet and our conscience cannot afford continued support for the Amazon corporation (with its trinkets and the bodies of millions of trees for boxes). Can we not stop worshipping at the feet of the god of convenience and love Life itself?
Rugged Individualism is part of the USA identity/ mythos: the "frontier spirit" and Horatio Alger's "rags-to-riches" "by one's own bootstraps". Atomized consumerism (d)evolved organically from that identity as the Capitalist ideology has taken over.
"We take care of our own" not solidarity was a common community spirit of the early settler-occupiers. Brutal for women, servants, and children. Note: In the South this phrase has a different meaning than in the pop song.
Finally, our laws take full advantage of the Aggregation Problem to ensure that big business and corporations dominate political and social organizing.
Prof Blanc's anecdotal evidence reveals the alienation inherent in this consumer-based identity and the fact that there is little organized opposition to Trumpism or hyper-capitalism.
The atomization of neoliberalism is no accident, nor is the effort to get atomized individuals to think of themselves primarily as consumers rather than citizens.
Begin with building community at whatever level you are able, no matter how small — this is the way to restore power to the people.
I agree with your criticisms and at the same time I cringe when I think of shopping at certain companies and avoid it whenever possible. I try to buy union down to my toothpaste.
There is an aspect of how do I bear witnesses to my beliefs. It may not move mountains but it settles my soul to try to live in economic consistency with my values and sense of solidarity.
We can live these two types of truths without confusing one for the other.
The general atomised boycott call is like a signal that people feel there is an issue but don't yet know how to connect with others.
Americans comprise 4.5% of the world's population and yet consume 25% of its resources. Clearly this is unjust. We Americans need to learn the word "degrowth". Our wants are unsustainable for both the planet and the global South. Our planet and our conscience cannot afford continued support for the Amazon corporation (with its trinkets and the bodies of millions of trees for boxes). Can we not stop worshipping at the feet of the god of convenience and love Life itself?
Rugged Individualism is part of the USA identity/ mythos: the "frontier spirit" and Horatio Alger's "rags-to-riches" "by one's own bootstraps". Atomized consumerism (d)evolved organically from that identity as the Capitalist ideology has taken over.
"We take care of our own" not solidarity was a common community spirit of the early settler-occupiers. Brutal for women, servants, and children. Note: In the South this phrase has a different meaning than in the pop song.
Finally, our laws take full advantage of the Aggregation Problem to ensure that big business and corporations dominate political and social organizing.
Prof Blanc's anecdotal evidence reveals the alienation inherent in this consumer-based identity and the fact that there is little organized opposition to Trumpism or hyper-capitalism.
The atomization of neoliberalism is no accident, nor is the effort to get atomized individuals to think of themselves primarily as consumers rather than citizens.
Begin with building community at whatever level you are able, no matter how small — this is the way to restore power to the people.