Has America gone "down hill" in the last 50 years or so transforming from a society that used to be producer-oriented to one that is consumer-oriented?

by tncdel Posted 2012/09/13 16:13:31

Related Topics: America, Word, Image, Consumerism, Images, tell, once, Consume, Years, Year

9 votes
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	YES [explain why you think so].	8 votes	89%
	NO [tell us why you think not].	1 vote	11%

Ever notice how our nation's focus has become "consumer-oriented," instead of PRODUCER-oriented, as America once was?

To me the word "CONSUME" evokes images of a plague of locusts or gypsy moth caterpillars devastating tree foliage, etc. How can CONSUMING our resources be deemed as a positive?

Has America gone "downhill" due in part to championing CONSUMERISM in our society, rather than being a vibrant nation of producers?

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Ville Elo-Squiggles\(>.<)/ 2012/09/13 23:38:15

YES [explain why you think so].

$Ville Elo-Squiggles\(>.<)/$

Well, the people certainly don't seem happy as they once were.

reply
classic 2012/09/13 19:54:46

YES [explain why you think so].

With the present trend of sending all manufacturing out of country, and importing everything,, we are slowly becomin a SERVER nation... The elite will be served by the common man... Mechanics, waitresses,, just services provided no manufacturing....

reply
FeedFwd 2012/09/13 17:15:07 (edited)

YES [explain why you think so].

+2
Yes, we are probably more consumer oriented and yes, we have "gone downhill" in some ways, but I don't think that is an important link. Correlation does not imply causality. The link is the mentality we have as a nation for immediate gratification rather than delayed gratification. We can't wait until we have earned and saved enough to buy what we want, so we borrow. We can't wait to hear the latest news, so we tune in 24/7 to radio, TV, and the Internet. Consumerism is good and it leads entrepreneurs to strive to fulfill our wants and needs. Who knew we "needed" smart phones or cars equipped with back-up cameras, GPS, and video for the kids? Who knew we would buy fresh fruit and veges year around? Who knew we could waste so much time on-line? If we can afford these things, who cares? The problem is that we have certain expectations that many of us cannot afford. Those who cannot are unwilling to sacrifice and do what it takes to earn and save enough to pay for what they want or do without. They simply expect somebody to give it to them. And Uncle Sam has been a real sugar daddy for years, even though he must borrow to give everybody what they want. Even then, most of those who are given stuff continue to complain! :(

reply
rocat to FeedFwd 2012/09/13 17:42:29

http://www.washingtonpost.com...

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FeedFwd to rocat 2012/09/13 17:49:25

+1
Government stimulus is a fraud. People behaving as self-interested rational actors in a free economy will strive to maximize their welfare. It may mean they want to own a house more than they want to own a new car or not. There will always be charity cases where somebody is incapable of caring for themselves, but in general, we should not be encouraging a dependent lifestyle! The government should limit itself to protecting us from theft, assault, and fraud, rather from the consequences of our own individual and personal choices.

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tncdel 2012/09/13 16:42:19

YES [explain why you think so].

Back in the 1950's the U.S. had no such thing as a "trade deficit" as we have today.

Total US Imports of Goods and Services

Year /
Quarter
$Billion
Year /
Quarter
$Billion
Year /
Quarter
$Billion
Year /
Quarter
$Billion

1947-Q1
1947-Q2
1947-Q3
1947-Q4
1948-Q1
1948-Q2
1948-Q3
1948-Q4
1949-Q1
1949-Q2
1949-Q3
1949-Q4
1950-Q1
1950-Q2
1950-Q3
1950-Q4
1951-Q1
1951-Q2
1951-Q3
1951-Q4
1952-Q1
1952-Q2
1952-Q3
1952-Q4
1953-Q1
1953-Q2
1953-Q3
1953-Q4
1954-Q1
1954-Q2
1954-Q3
1954-Q4
1955-Q1
1955-Q2
1955-Q3
1955-Q4
1956-Q1
1956-Q2
1956-Q3
1956-Q4
1957-Q1
1957-Q2
1957-Q3
1957-Q4
1958-Q1
1958-Q2
1958-Q3
1958-Q4
1959-Q1
1959-Q2
1959-Q3
1959-Q4
1960-Q1
1960-Q2
1960-Q3
1960-Q4
1961-Q1
1961-Q2
1961-Q3
1961-Q4
1962-Q1
1962-Q2
1962-Q3
1962-Q4
1963-Q1
1963-Q2
1963-Q3
1963-Q4
1964-Q1
1964-Q2
1964-Q3
1964-Q4
1965-Q1
1965-Q2
1965-Q3
1965-Q4
1966-Q1
1966-Q2
1966-Q3
1966-Q4
1967-Q1
1967-Q2
7.5
8.2
7.7
8.3
9.6
10.0
10.5
10.1
9.6
9.4
8.9
9.1
9.5
10.2
13.0
13.7
14.9
15.2
14.3
14.0
15.0
14.6
15.3
16.3
15.8
16.4
16.3
15.5
14.8
16.2
15.3
15.5
16.2
17.1
17.4
18.1
18.9
19.0
19.3
18.5
20.1
20.3
19.8
19.6
19.5
20.1
19.7
20.8
21.4
22.5
22.9
22.5
23.3
23.5
22.9
21.7
21.7
21.9
23.3
23.9
24.3
24.9
25.1
25.6
25.2
25.9
26.7
26.8
27.0
27.7
28.4
29.3
28.5
31.7
32.0
33.9
35.0
36.2
38.2
38.8
39.4
39.0

1967-Q3
...

Back in the 1950's the U.S. had no such thing as a "trade deficit" as we have today.

Total US Imports of Goods and Services

Year /
Quarter
$Billion
Year /
Quarter
$Billion
Year /
Quarter
$Billion
Year /
Quarter
$Billion

1947-Q1
1947-Q2
1947-Q3
1947-Q4
1948-Q1
1948-Q2
1948-Q3
1948-Q4
1949-Q1
1949-Q2
1949-Q3
1949-Q4
1950-Q1
1950-Q2
1950-Q3
1950-Q4
1951-Q1
1951-Q2
1951-Q3
1951-Q4
1952-Q1
1952-Q2
1952-Q3
1952-Q4
1953-Q1
1953-Q2
1953-Q3
1953-Q4
1954-Q1
1954-Q2
1954-Q3
1954-Q4
1955-Q1
1955-Q2
1955-Q3
1955-Q4
1956-Q1
1956-Q2
1956-Q3
1956-Q4
1957-Q1
1957-Q2
1957-Q3
1957-Q4
1958-Q1
1958-Q2
1958-Q3
1958-Q4
1959-Q1
1959-Q2
1959-Q3
1959-Q4
1960-Q1
1960-Q2
1960-Q3
1960-Q4
1961-Q1
1961-Q2
1961-Q3
1961-Q4
1962-Q1
1962-Q2
1962-Q3
1962-Q4
1963-Q1
1963-Q2
1963-Q3
1963-Q4
1964-Q1
1964-Q2
1964-Q3
1964-Q4
1965-Q1
1965-Q2
1965-Q3
1965-Q4
1966-Q1
1966-Q2
1966-Q3
1966-Q4
1967-Q1
1967-Q2
7.5
8.2
7.7
8.3
9.6
10.0
10.5
10.1
9.6
9.4
8.9
9.1
9.5
10.2
13.0
13.7
14.9
15.2
14.3
14.0
15.0
14.6
15.3
16.3
15.8
16.4
16.3
15.5
14.8
16.2
15.3
15.5
16.2
17.1
17.4
18.1
18.9
19.0
19.3
18.5
20.1
20.3
19.8
19.6
19.5
20.1
19.7
20.8
21.4
22.5
22.9
22.5
23.3
23.5
22.9
21.7
21.7
21.9
23.3
23.9
24.3
24.9
25.1
25.6
25.2
25.9
26.7
26.8
27.0
27.7
28.4
29.3
28.5
31.7
32.0
33.9
35.0
36.2
38.2
38.8
39.4
39.0

1967-Q3
1967-Q4
1968-Q1
1968-Q2
1968-Q3
1968-Q4
1969-Q1
1969-Q2
1969-Q3
1969-Q4
1970-Q1
1970-Q2
1970-Q3
1970-Q4
1971-Q1
1971-Q2
1971-Q3
1971-Q4
1972-Q1
1972-Q2
1972-Q3
1972-Q4
1973-Q1
1973-Q2
1973-Q3
1973-Q4
1974-Q1
1974-Q2
1974-Q3
1974-Q4
1975-Q1
1975-Q2
1975-Q3
1975-Q4
1976-Q1
1976-Q2
1976-Q3
1976-Q4
1977-Q1
1977-Q2
1977-Q3
1977-Q4
1978-Q1
1978-Q2
1978-Q3
1978-Q4
1979-Q1
1979-Q2
1979-Q3
1979-Q4
1980-Q1
1980-Q2
1980-Q3
1980-Q4
1981-Q1
1981-Q2
1981-Q3
1981-Q4
1982-Q1
1982-Q2
1982-Q3
1982-Q4
1983-Q1
1983-Q2
1983-Q3
1983-Q4
1984-Q1
1984-Q2
1984-Q3
1984-Q4
1985-Q1
1985-Q2
1985-Q3
1985-Q4
1986-Q1
1986-Q2
1986-Q3
1986-Q4
1987-Q1
1987-Q2
1987-Q3
1987-Q4
39.5
41.7
44.4
45.4
48.2
48.2
43.8
52.7
52.4
53.1
53.5
55.2
56.4
57.9
58.7
63.3
65.5
61.9
72.2
71.4
74.1
79.2
85.4
89.5
91.1
98.7
110.3
129.4
133.6
136.6
124.9
115.2
122.1
128.7
138.9
147.1
155.8
162.7
176.4
183.0
182.9
187.4
203.3
208.8
215.1
221.8
229.8
243.1
257.3
280.5
304.3
292.6
279.2
299.2
319.7
322.0
309.9
319.4
309.5
299.1
309.3
294.9
295.3
318.0
343.4
358.0
388.0
406.5
409.6
416.4
397.3
418.6
414.2
438.9
439.8
444.4
459.8
469.0
478.1
502.7
517.7
537.9

1988-Q1
1988-Q2
1988-Q3
1988-Q4
1989-Q1
1989-Q2
1989-Q3
1989-Q4
1990-Q1
1990-Q2
1990-Q3
1990-Q4
1991-Q1
1991-Q2
1991-Q3
1991-Q4
1992-Q1
1992-Q2
1992-Q3
1992-Q4
1993-Q1
1993-Q2
1993-Q3
1993-Q4
1994-Q1
1994-Q2
1994-Q3
1994-Q4
1995-Q1
1995-Q2
1995-Q3
1995-Q4
1996-Q1
1996-Q2
1996-Q3
1996-Q4
1997-Q1
1997-Q2
1997-Q3
1997-Q4
1998-Q1
1998-Q2
1998-Q3
1998-Q4
1999-Q1
1999-Q2
1999-Q3
1999-Q4
2000-Q1
2000-Q2
2000-Q3
2000-Q4
2001-Q1
2001-Q2
2001-Q3
2001-Q4
2002-Q1
2002-Q2
2002-Q3
2002-Q4
2003-Q1
2003-Q2
2003-Q3
2003-Q4
2004-Q1
2004-Q2
2004-Q3
2004-Q4
2005-Q1
2005-Q2
2005-Q3
2005-Q4
2006-Q1
2006-Q2
2006-Q3
2006-Q4
2007-Q1
2007-Q2
2007-Q3
2007-Q4
2008-Q1
2008-Q2
543
546
553
574
586
595
584
598
627
615
630
647
620
614
622
638
646
659
678
689
699
716
719
745
762
798
834
861
887
908
906
909
937
953
974
993
1027
1040
1071
1085
1098
1110
1110
1145
1171
1222
1282
1331
1411
1454
1515
1522
1493
1420
1364
1318
1348
1424
1456
1492
1516
1516
1541
1608
1685
1777
1821
1912
1940
1989
2042
2141
2190
2237
2282
2253
2301
2350
2395
2458
2558
2677

2008-Q3
2008-Q4
2009-Q1
2009-Q2
2009-Q3
2009-Q4
2010-Q1
2010-Q2
2010-Q3
2010-Q4
2011-Q1
2011-Q2
2011-Q3
2011-Q4
2012-Q1
2690
2289
1897
1855
1991
2116
2238
2357
2399
2421
2576
2682
2682
2698
2756

Quarterly US Imports are shown in this table: 1947 to present.
(more)

reply
tncdel to tncdel 2012/09/13 16:44:17

SodaHead programming failed to process properly what I attempted to paste from a PDF file.

reply
rocat 2012/09/13 16:29:08

YES [explain why you think so].

+2
coincides...
with our transformation...
into an information society...
with a service economy-

reply
Mike to rocat 2012/09/13 16:37:05

+1
When the “producer-oriented” cannot produce enough food, then information and service will starve.

reply
rocat to Mike 2012/09/13 16:44:26

+2
yep-

production...
benefits producers...
consumers...
vendors...

while consumerism mainly benefits vendors-

nothing wrong with consumerism...
when balanced-

but combine consumerism without production...
with debt based lifestyles and easy credit...

well...here we are-

reply
FeedFwd to Mike 2012/09/13 17:16:11

We are producing a surplus of food. We are exporting food. Don't think we have reached that point, yet.

reply
Mike to FeedFwd 2012/09/13 17:28:45

+2
Subtly over time, we transitioned from “producer-oriented” to “consumer-oriented” and one day woke up and wondered why. I hope that doesn’t happen to our food industry.

reply
FeedFwd to Mike 2012/09/13 17:32:30 (edited)

+2
Agreed! Thankfully, I grow some produce and know how to hunt, fish, and raise some livestock. Unfortunately, I don't have enough land to produce enough food to feed my family and I do not live in a place where I can grow and harvest everything I want or need, even if I did have enough land.

reply
tncdel to rocat 2012/09/13 16:47:25

+1
I'm talking instead of the ratio between how much we now produce and export as a nation versus how much we consume, including from other nations as imports. The U.S. used to be a supplier far more so than a user of supplies.

reply
rocat to tncdel 2012/09/13 16:54:57

+2
that is where the balance part comes in-

we consume...
while other economys produce-

no balance-

and america has consumed mostly with credit...not real funds-

reply
FeedFwd to tncdel 2012/09/13 17:18:02

+1
Nothing wrong with that as long as all parties are satisfied. We are paying the producers something... worthless and declining greenbacks. Who is getting the shaft here?

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BHGOzzy 2012/09/13 16:16:31

NO [tell us why you think not].

+1
First off, given that it's 2012, 50 years ago isn't the 1950's, it's 1962.

The US hasn't gone down hill, it's just gone different. Remember, they didn't have the Internet back then or any of the tools we have today.

reply
tncdel to BHGOzzy 2012/09/13 16:31:32

+3
The U.S. back then was a manufacturing nation whose exports far outnumbered its imports by something like a 5-to-1 ratio.

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FeedFwd to tncdel 2012/09/13 17:26:00

B&W TV, usually only 1 car per family or less, fewer restaurants and stores, party line phones, transistor radios with very little FM and no satellite, at most, 3 VHF networks and perhaps a UHF channel, limited season for fresh produce and nasty frozen foods known as TV dinners,virtually no computers and the ones that existed filled a room with the computing power in your modern wristwatch, rural areas of the country had poor electrial service and there was no such thing as cable TV, Few homes and even fewer cars had central air-conditioning, air-travel was practically a novelty and buses were commonly used for long distance trips, and TANG was justbeing introduced. There have been a few improvements in the past 50 or 60 years.

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Jeff Smith to FeedFwd 2012/09/14 16:18:05

+1
Don't forget 10 cent a gallon of gas and 15cent a gallon for milk

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FeedFwd to Jeff Smith 2012/09/14 16:23:49

+1
yes, and a new car cost $1,000 and a new house $20,000. But incomes were also mucyh lower. That is merely a symptom of inflation.

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