Learning To Want What We Need

[adrianh11]

Really cool, man top 1% thats the dream ;).

[adrianh11]

Free Choice Post #3

I decided to do this photo for my free choice post rather then one of the many others I posted because the message of this one is very subtle and fun to diagnose. As you can see it's the world hanging by a thread. I would like to pretend the flower is a metaphor for reality and happiness, and the weight of the elephant is consumerism and the elephant is the world.  The more consumerism takes over our society the farther we become between happiness and reality as the weight of the world is on our shoulders, as we hang on by a thread. I thought the theme of this picture would have to be something of, consumerism is dragging us into the abyss. A very interesting picture I would love to hear your thoughts.

[adrianh11]

I just came across this one day and I really noticed one of the ways really represented our consumerist society in how you get better at something with money and no effort.

[adrianh11]

Labour Unions Current Event

For my post about current labour unions I'm going to be talking about the Canadian government and AUPE conflict right now. I'm sure you've seen these commercials "we are the real workers" and you see the AUPE are looking for public support. To the best of my knowledge the Canadian government is looking to get rid of a lot of the rights the AUPE have worked for. They are looking to get rid of collective bargaining, which is where on a strike the multiple levels of that strike are not allowed to get together and discuss their terms so each level will most likely settle lower on money, or whatever the topic at hand. Another right the Canadian government is pushing to pass is to increases the penally for wild cat strikes. So in other words if said work force goes on strike without warning the owner is allowed to hire other workers referred to as "scabs", whereas usually the owner is not allowed to during a normal strike. Also the Canadian government wants to get rid of the right to talk about going on strike. So in many ways, the Canadian government is trying to strip away everything the AUPE has fought for.

This is a perfect example about how strong and effective the labour union's can be and why the government see's need to shut it down. It really helps to communicate just how close economic systems and consumer choices are. Everyone is a consumer but we also have a choice about how to change the system, and by going on strike we can help do this. The government doesn't like it because then they can't control us, and continue to manipulate consumers through their values and marketing and other factors. The AUPE has really helped me notice just how high our quality of life is. When you think about it it's amazing. When one consumer identity can fight for a better quality of life and improve all of ours, the power is in the people. If you compare it to dictatorships, there is no choice and representation of the people and there quality of life is unthinkable to us.

Thanks for reading!

[adrianh11]

Free-choice Post #2

CO-OP and Safeway 

For my second free choice post I decided to look at something that went on a little while ago and to talk about how consumer choices and government involvement made a change for the better. In the old neighbourhoods of Calgary you will see a CO-OP right next to a Safeway. Have you ever wondered why? It's because when Safeway came to canada they wanted to run CO-OP out of business. Safeway opened stores right next to almost all the CO-OP's, and undercut all there prices. So the government got involved and stop this billion dollar American company from doing this. Customers also recognized the maturity and general human decency CO-OP was showing. When CO-OP made cuts they did it evenly, 10% from each level, they are also the only store that brings your groceries to your cars.

This really shows just how great a mixed economy is. Because of both consumer choices and government involvement they were able to stop a corporate giants scheme and protect the littler guy. I also shows how your choices can effect other peoples lives, as well as the economy. By choosing to go with CO-OP you encourage fair pay, fair treatment, all that good stuff. Then you have Safeway, a almost criminal company.

I hope this has been a nice little tid-bit or consumer information.

[adrianh11]

Collaborative Consumption

What we did in class is swap-city (I was not there due to a broken tibia).  It's basically a big meet where everyone barters and you give something that is junk to you, to someone who still see's value in that product. It's a great idea but is almost never fair, and fair itself is almost impossible to define because of this. Either one of the bargainers will see that the object is worth nothing to  the other person getting a better deal, or the other person realizes that it's worth more to the other getting a better deal. So there will never be fair. To solve this we started to put a price on objects developing the economic system we know and love today.

There are systems that would come close to answering the question of scarcity on a finite plant such as ours. Bartering keeps the cycle flowing rather smoothly, the goods keep moving around cutting back on the overall use of resources. Well that's all fine and dandy buy as soon as consumerism comes into play where you want something new and shiny. Also it's pretty hard to tax a trade, "I want 10% of that chicken" doesn't work, so with the invention of money a more powerful government was available. This really shows how people have a direct effect on the economy each other, and their identity as a collective. When bartering you can decide to sell your good or service and it will then effect you and anyone else you come into contact with, shaping them as a person as a whole, depending if they get that good or not. 

On a larger levels this also occurs. It is borderline illegal. Take this into example. Walmart needs your law firms lawyers to look over there papers as a favour, and they will give you a free mention in there add. Who is to say what "favours" are worth and there usually not taxed. Giving us a perfect example of black market in every day lives, and also one of the many systems that still go on today.

Thanks for reading stay tuned for more.

[adrianh11]

Freechoice Post #1

For this post we are playing Monopoly. Ah if there was a game more about consumerism, please tell me.  I personally hate the game. Have you every noticed that it takes forever, is painful while you play, and the most experienced player wins (aka. not me). Life has turned into one big game of monopoly. Everyone seeking controll to "win".  There is no wining though only just going around and around till everyone gets bored (no pun intended) and goes outside. We are stuck in this cycle of consumerism with all these big brands seeking that final monopoly. 

In the game has anyone noticed what effects buyer decisions? They are almost the same in the game as they are in real life. The main one, price, can you afford it? This is where monopoly either teaches a good life lesson or develops a bad habit. So you land on park place and take out a lone to buy the place. This can go two ways, one better for you then the other. A) you can't pay it back going so deep into dept you leave the game. In the long run, if you've learned anything you won't do that again. B) you get all the money back the next turn able to pay back the loan and win the game. If that happens you learn to take finical risks, that just won't pay out in the end. 

We see what comes into play (so many puns) is supply and demand. It also seems there is something unknown about it. It's missing element to it. It's and equation right? So what is it equal to. In my mind I see it's equal to promise. Something were searching for, the promise that it will get better. Demand goes up, supply goes down, Price goes up, = Promise grows greater. Supply goes up, demand goes down, price goes down = Promise dwindles. That's at least how I see it.

We also notice marketing coming into play in the actual game! On the board it usually has Dr. Dre beats or Apple. That is an actual version. guess what's at the most expensive spot in the game. Whoever paid the most. Coca-Cola. The next being Samsung, which is not what you would expect right? I thought it would be pepsi if they had any sense of humour. Marketing also occurs in the game under each little space it points out why you should buy it. 

This is just a few connections I made, I saw a idea and went with it, hope you enjoyed!

[adrianh11]

USA vs. CANADA Quality of life for their citizens

I was not there for this debate because I was running a fever. Instead of actually doing the debate I thought I could talk about some of the main points from these debates and give my own point of view. 

I noticed that most of these debates were a battle of who has better health care. It comes back to values, and the situation you are in. In the U.S. they promote individualism, and making your own way. We see this in the pursuit of Happyness, in how Chris Gardener makes his own way back with almost no help at all. Because of this mixed economy we live in, in canada, we seem to value the collective identity. By supporting each other we believe we will move forward faster which is true. But the USA believes that you as a individual are to work to the best of your ability, thereby promoting the collective.

I am on the side of the USA because of my values. It seems almost as if the USA providers a safety net to help you from falling but it doesn't support you to the extent canada does. If you are on welfare in canada health care, insurance, a lot of stuff is free. You will see in the U.S more then canada, people who are open about not wanting to support these people through charity. If you work hard for the little bit you have, but you have to give 10% to buddy who hasn't worked a day in his life, how would you feel? This really shows how consumer choices and values can really effect others.

The USA's market economy has changed the consumers. It's made them victim to something their aware of but not like they would expect. It's almost like buying a cobra taking out the teeth but leaving the venom. It will still get you just not how you imagine it would. People are willing to sacrifice there money, that's not the real problem. The real problem is when this happens it allows the economic system to define your identity. Almost like the use of symbolism. A tangible thing used to define something intangible. When that happens we need to keep defining ourselves, because we are always changing and growing. Now we only know how to define ourselves through the economy and they gain the ability play us like puppets. When people stop, the economy is sure to fail, if it stops growing, the economy is sure to fail, that's why consumerism needs to have a solution.

Thanks for reading, there will be more soon!

Thanks for reading bye!

[adrianh11]

I saw it first!

[adrianh11]

Canada National Debt Clock :: National Debt Clocks

Check it out, kind of interesting. Has a lot to say about government spending, and what seems to be the slow failure of the Canadian system.

[adrianh11]

Wow, I forge my own path maybe i'll try it to! (HA NOPE)

[adrianh11]

One of the funniest comedians out there talking about consumerism (well near the end)

[adrianh11]

The corruption of the American soul is consumerism.

Ben Nicholson

[adrianh11]

10 posts! NOW IT'S NUMBER 11!

[adrianh11]

C.C.V.S.C

[adrianh11]

Connecting Economic Systems

Hi i'm back again really soon. Today i'm doing a mash up of my Tumblr and my GINS novel study. For me this might be a lot easier then anyone else because my global issue hits closer to home. One thing that really correlated was consumer spending, and supply and demand. Consumerism is a growing system and an essential part of our economy.  When the banks started to fail everyone pulled there money out of circulation. Everyone got scared and was really careful with there spending, cutting down on luxury. Now lets look at supply and demand. We talked about the flow and direct impacts they have on each other. What if we just got rid of the money? There would be no demand, the suppliers can't afford to lower their prices, and it just all stops like a rusted gear. It really shows just how a market economy can fail. If it was more of a mixed economy, this recession might have been solved sooner with more good government. Another thing that changed because of this great depression was the unfairness of the supplier. In multiple scenarios of the book we see this taking place. In Oklahoma everyone is trying to move east to California with the promise of jobs and they will do anything to get there. The suppliers know this, and are taking advantage by hiking up the prices for essentially garbage.

Another thing that occurred that really had a terrible effect on the american people was social programs, as bad as they were before, got worse. With private health care, no one could afford it. Causing the average life expectancy to plummeted to 57.1 years. Showing the U.S.A's values, which seems to be money. These are just a few of the connections that a have pointed out, and who knows, maybe there will be more to come ;). 

[adrianh11]

“I was part of that strange race of people aptly described as spending their lives doing things they detest, to make money they don't want, to buy things they don't need, to impress people they don't like.” ― Emile Gauvreau