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.

Chinese People on Credit Card

The industrial revolution has moved lock,stock and barrel to China. Consequently the new middle class of the world is 1.2 billion Chinese. Now they will get credit cards. They will buy cars, live in bigger homes with more fuel consuming appliances, take trips, probably sneak more children births and in general foul the planet to the loss of every other species. 

I say we need a flu to curtail this juggernaught.

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.

Abusive Monkey Experiments: We Should Use Humans Instead

Don't just sit there. Order a pizza, buy something on the Home Shopping Channel, order a movie and USE your credit card.

And so poor macaque monkeys with "their own arms gently restarined" learn to manipulate with only their brain waves which are wired to an artificial limb to grab and eat a marshmallow. The essence of our consumer society is now being delivered to the disabled courtesy of the hapless primate. The report is detailed in the latest edition of the scientific journal Nature.

Why use animals? Haven't we plenty of fat, demented couch potatoes who could be wired similarly? Probably some wouldn't even notice it. Or they would love to expend less energy in grabbing some potato chips and a coke while watching Oprah or some stupid game show. Merely thinking about the mouthful of stuff would be enough.

Our consumption and growth based society need all to participate. We ALL must buy and eat and buy and eat and buy and eat and buy and eat and buy and eat..........