Profit and Social Deterioration

Big Bubbles Burst

For the past many decades corporations have continually increased their marketing intensity, leap-frogging back and forth with the competition. It has been a contest to achieve a bigger profit than the other guys by aggressively selling more to the consumer. The rules have been lax as tricks and traps have become common in many areas of business.

This constant pressure to buy has created a society that is always striving to acquire more expensive goods and services. Bigger and better cars and homes, trendier clothes, excessive toys and gadgets have been the personal desires and 'accomplishments' so many seek. Often it is with extended debt. In the richer countries citizens have accumulated excessively and unabated for many years, all to the tune of persuasive advertising.

At some point in time consumers will have had enough. They will become dissatisfied with questionable corporate selling methods and inferior purchases, much of which turned out to be unneeded or perhaps useless or even harmful. They will begin to regret the life stresses used in the processes of acquiring those things which do not make for a better life.

In very recent years there has been a backlash slowly arising. The serious issue of global warming has increased attention to this over-consumption which creates mountains of waste and pollution and takes away from a basic contented lifestyle.

Restoring normalcy to the artificial aspects of our society will involve less commercialism. Outlawing excessive and deceptive advertising would be a good start towards long term social healing. Imagine the changes if there were strict regulations in place, with goods and services purchased more wisely, out of necessity or by word-of-mouth recommendation.

Marketing and consumerism are due for severe trimming, in this decade or perhaps much further on. Profits will shrink, businesses will suffer and markets will drop as we begin to return to a more natural existence.

Sooner or later, gently over time, or more quickly and harshly.