Stuff you think you need....

Here's a fun picture to kick things off. Yes I know its not Christmas in fact its closer to Easter really but the point is the way our society spends - who needs an excuse?

The point I wanted to make today are the problems of greed and envy. Just a couple of inconvenient factors required to make the market, the economy and capitalism work.
I see that unfortunately this system we have established requires these two to be central factors. Creating demand through advertising, establishing a customer base etc. Basically convincing individuals that they require something in order to be normal, accepted, desired and so forth. Creating images in the individuals mind of what normal, accepted and desirable are (like they know?)
So in letting all this run wild in our capitalistic society have we stopped to wonder about the costs involved in any of it? Do we factor in the costs of the discarding of the poor, and as time wears on, the middle class as our rich become astronomically out of reach. Why aren't we we asking questions like: why does the reserve bank blame base consumers for over inflating an economy (and forcing interest rates higher) when the richest one percent easily spend enough to outspend the other 99% just because they can afford it? Why then does the reserve bank then penalize those in debt to attempt to counter the overspending of that rich minority to 'stabilize' the economy and counter inflation?
The system is pretty sick and I don't see it getting better any time soon.
So long as most are convinced that this capitalism is the only option and continue to allow themselves to be bombarded and permeated in advertising and marketing, bowing and worshiping the market's version of the perfect person.
So long as we stop thinking for ourselves and finding alternative choices outside that all enveloping image.

Here's a song for you to listen to as you absorb these questions and ponder.
A Perfect Circle's - Hollow fits the bill nicely; the lyrics reflect the ideas of the perpetual capitalistic need of being fed and filled up over and over again only to be temporarily pacified.
Enjoy in reflection.