Google's Car Without A Driver: Consumerism Without A Life ?

Google has announced technology that has been tested over 140,000 miles that drives an automobile. Specifically , the car needs no driver. It relies on Google maps for the shortest distance on all car trips. The software also analyzes traffic conditions as per artificial intelligence and adjusts speeds.  All Google needs is some one to take out an auto loan and buy the car. Presumably a driver license may not be needed if Google presses a comprehensive marketing blitz. The consumer age has reached the point where the consumer is only necessary to to buy the product and the product from then on has a life while the consumer takes a back seat in the car and in life.

Foie Gras Nation: Consume Or Die

Fact. American economy is based on consumption. Fact. Seventy percent of our economy is dedicated to providing food and services to a consuming class of all gradations and income levels. Fact. If we don't consume our economy will fail. In our current sputtering economic times and high unemployment, the Federal Reserve has resorted to buying up government debt so new debt can be issued and so consumption can be guaranteed. These monetary policies herd U.S. citizens to consume because interest rates are almost non existant so there is no money in saving and prudence.. Much like geese are force fed to fatten their liver to produce foie gras. That's reality. That's the plan. But a collateral result produces an obese nation. Fact. Almost 70% ( notice the number?) of consumers are overweight, fat or obese. If 70% of economy is consumer based, then only 30% actually produce. The producers are necessarily not fat in their operating procedures.. It would be bad for their business model. The people we fight around the world are not fat. ever see a fat member of al Qaeda or Taliban? Who is more likely to win the wars? Who is more likely to win a healthy peace ?

African Consumerism: Supermarkets in the Mist

The Wall Street Journal was gushing about the prospects for a consumerism launch in Africa. The subtitle reads" As Disposable Incomes Continue to Climb, Multinationals Shift Focus From Resources [extraction] to Retail". Gee , what could possibly go wrong? Well, how about the continent slowly turns into a Haiti look- alike ? Maybe add supermarkets in the mist without a janitor to pick up in the parking lots. Multiplex theaters that feature R-rated films starring rappers and pimps. Huge freeways along side national parks and wildlife preserves. Establishing welfare roles to cement central power by politicians. African states able to step up in class of arms purchases. In short, it will look more like the West which is not necessarily a good thing.

Stock Market & Money & Master & Slave

The stock market cries , " More money, I need more money". It writhes like an addict for more liquidity. The former masters of the printing press now become the slaves to the wanton consumer philosophy. The masters which include the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government are slaves themselves to the commercial greed of Wall Street and the wasteful ways of many of the electorate so they dutifully pass out more "free from responsibility" placebos. Get a life jerks.

Warren Buffett: Richest Man & Garbage Man

Warren Buffett is the world's richest man according to Forbes. He is estimated to be worth $62 billion. His flagship investment vehicle is Berkshire Hathaway. He has guided Berkshire's investments since the late 1960s. His investment philosophy is simple. Buy well-run disposable branded products that make loyal- repeat- user consumers. Then it's just multiplication of the population that takes over. The premise of the philosophy is at once brilliant and also vulgar.

The investment portfolio of Berkshire feature the likes of Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Buch,Gillette, McDonalds,Dairy Queen, Mars-Sees Candies, Wrigley Chewing Gum, American Express, Wal-Mart, Procter & Gamble etc. The consumer disposables created his wealth but also fostered human obestity and mountains of packaging and manufacturing garbage as a by-product. Most people only talk about the wealth side of the equation. But on a zero sum planet "wealth" has to come from some other thing that is diminished like water, clean environments, etc.

But things are changing. Now and increasingly in the future successful inventors and investors will have a guiding philosophy that first asks the question, " How much garbage will my product produce?" and secondly ask "How much will my product improve what nature offers perfectly?"