Can't Buy Me Love

Trey Smith

Readers responded to my December 16th article, entitled The Walmartization of America, Redux, with a fascinating and informed discussion about the evils of box stores.

Well, yes, but the article was meant to be a metaphor; the high cost of cheap spreads way beyond the walls of the box stores.

The fact is, the entire US economy is predicated on the notion that success is defined as getting us ever more stuff at lower prices.

And the fact is, we’ve bought into it, lock, stock and barrel. For too many of us, gewgaws, gadgets and gizmos – an unending stream of stuff – has become the primary criterion of happiness.

And it’s costing us plenty. Both in terms of our economy and our political system.

Never mind that we destroyed the US’s entire manufacturing capacity in the pursuit of cheap.

Never mind that we’ve traded in freedom, ethics and community for a 73-inch-flat-screen-3D-stereo-surround-sound-home theater, a happy meal and a smiley face.

Never mind that yesterday’s fantasy is today’s must have, and that we’ve yoked ourselves to a never ending and futile pursuit of stuff in the mistaken belief that more of it will make us happy.

The real deal is, our addiction to cheap has made us indentured slaves to the plutocratic system we protest. Their profits – the very existence of the model we decry – depend upon our willingness to support it with our addiction to cheap stuff.

Occupy? Not until we destroy this fantasy that chasing ever more stuff is the answer to our prayers, the wellspring of our happiness.
~ from A Redo on the Walmartization of America, Redux by John Atcheson ~

Initially, I had a lot I was going to write about Atcheson's superb essay. I was going to agree with his supposition and then add my typical two cents' worth. After mulling over which points I wanted to highlight, I stopped. I realized that, sometimes, a snippet I share can simply stand on its own.

So, what I will suggest is that regular readers think about the message contained above in light of the various Taoist themes presented on this blog each day. In essence, Atcheson's point is not unlike that of Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, or the Chinese Masters: We can't buy our way to happiness, wisdom or enlightenment and the attempt to do so only brings us suffering and misery.