Simplicity

"...the media sells it, and you live the role"

Ozzy Osbourne

How much of our identity springs from TV, movies, and "pop culture" in general? Better people than I have called American culture "disposable" and "junk," not like this is a new criticism. As I sit at my kitchen table in the morning and watch the day's news the big stories are about international strife (the middle East) and our current President's popularity rating juxtaposed with his opposing party's vehement opposition to his policies.

Well, am I wrong to think that the narrative continues irrespective of the names of the actual persons involved? Rewind the tape 4 years ago and we had strife overseas and the Bush presidency at loggerheads with a Democratic Congress.

Are you like me? You ever just exhale and think it's all a great big bowl of Suck? I know that it's wrong to feel that way but as Led Zeppelin said the song remains the same. The tune hardly changes.

They sell us. I think that's the true face of American culture: sales. We don't have door-to-door hucksters anymore, we don't need them in a day and age when cable and satellite beam shows like "Today" to an audience of millions and celebs make "guest appearances" wherein they hock some piece of junk that everyone will want to go out and buy.

And buy we do. When I was a kid I wasn't given an allowance (no, I was not a neglected kid but my parents didn't have a lot of money). When I wanted something I either waited for a birthday (my grandmother would spoil me) or try to earn it. I can recall saving up to buy the AC/DC album "Back in Black" in 5th grade, which I think I got for $7 at a record store. I helped my folks rake up the yard, I think.

[this story would be way better if the aforementioned letter led to a career as a rock star hero, but alas...]

My point being, I had to work for what I had. And like everyone else I joined the cult of the consumer and bought stuff, I got money and I spent it. This became even worse when I was given a credit card, and I still struggle with it to this day. Perhaps even moreso when you're a parent and your kids come running in squawking about how "so-and-so has this" etc, etc.

Why struggle? I'm smart enough to know better.

Because it's easy to say "yes," and our "culture" reinforces this ease and cultivates what my parents called the "I wants." It's been perfected now, to reach all cohorts of the country: scooter chairs for seniors, Viagra for boomers, Pampers for parents, cool stuff for 20-somethings, toys for children. From the womb to the tomb....they get ya. They embrace us, and we clearly embrace them back. I'm the fish, the hook is baited, and...CHOMP. Ow.

What caused the recession? I have no clue, but I'm willing to opine that it began with greed. And the word "yes." Yes, you can make a killing. Yes, you're house is really worth 10 times more than you paid for it 5 years ago. Yes, you can afford it all.

It's easy!