Aliya's Consumer Blog.

[aliyalh]

Well now that it's December all the Christmas adds are in full swing and all the families are making their Christmas lists. Do understand that I am not trying to go against the holiday itself but merely trying to raise attention to what it has become. Christmas has gone from a holiday to celebrate family and other religious beliefs but has become a chance to get more things. Sure, maybe everyone deserves a little something, maybe it has been a hard year but the answer to this is not endless gifts. In my personal experience I have seen this holiday evolve into something that becomes ridiculous with my own family. Every year since I was little everyone received 2-3 gifts each which always seemed to be plenty. But then when I was about 9 I joined my younger cousin for Christmas for the first time and her grandmother alone gave about 12 gifts to each one of her grandchildren. This was the same family that couldn't afford to get their dog fixed but could afford 10s of gifts for each of their three children. By the end of the whole exchange half of the gifts end up in the basement after being used only once because there is so many other things to play with. And foolishly we have all grown as a society to believe that the more you buy for someone the more you love them, the more expensive the gift the more we value that person. And this is totally wrong! I am not trying to tell anyone to not buy something for someone they love i'm just saying that many families can afford to tone the gifts down a bit. 

Sorry for the scary santa but the message was to good to turn down! http://voiceoftruthblog.com/consumerism-the-stumbling-block-of-a-generation 

[aliyalh]

Breaking: Whole Foods strike wins Thanksgiving day off, workers say

A union is formed when workers feel that they don't have a standing with management, when management doesn't care about workers, worker benefits, wages, working conditions. A union negotiates regularly (every year, two years, or 5 years - depending on the term of the contract) for a binding work contract, that sets out the terms of holidays, vacation, wages, hours and any other pertinent conditions of the workplace environment. If the union and management can't reach an agreement some unions have the option to strike which forces the company to shut down the business. One union will not cross another union's picket line which can hold up product delivery. If the union and management are not able to come to an agreement, the government will step in and send them to binding arbitration. This is when a judge looks at both sides and equitably meets the needs of both sides - giving neither their full request. Unions who aren't allowed to strike are referred to as essential services (nurses, doctors, policemen, firemen and paramedics) and go immediately to arbitration. The role of the union is to ensure the safe, fair, and equitable pay for the employees.  They are created on the assumption that the management will not give the employees what they need. 

The workers in the article were taking a chance that they could be fired for striking because they were not unionized. If the employees in the article had the unions support or were even part of a union they would be able to strike without the worry that their jobs would be taken, and they wouldn't have to go on strike to get a basic day off.

[aliyalh]

Grade 9 Swapsity!

On thursday in class we had our own glimpse into a bartering society or a swapsity. Everyone brought in one item that they could either keep or trade for something better with a different student. Unfortunately I missed this event and I couldn’t trade anything. I was planning to bring in medium Slurpee. I really wish that I could have been there because based on my peers posts it seemed to be really interesting and really eye opening. Though I couldn’t be there I have a basic idea from other times in my life where the opportunity to trade something for something else or better. The difference between bartering and purchasing is in bartering you trade one thing for another whereas purchasing your things with money. One of the more interesting things about bartering is that what you are trading can have more sentimental value to you or you are worried about how your things are going to be used by the other person. This can change what you think your item is worth compared to what your friend thinks it’s worth. This system was used in the past by other civilizations, I  think that it is an effective way to make a living because everyone has a fair shot. You could go from a paper clip to mansion, or a cd to a car.

[aliyalh]

I found this video clip and I found the one part about how much Canadians and Americans consumer compared to the rest of the world really made me stop and think. It really shows how large our consumer society is!

This is the youtube link to the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zf9HaWwaLI  

[aliyalh]

I found this picture and it think that it shows how in our society the only way you can be anything is if you consume the world around us. If you think about it everyone who is "anyone" advertises for something even charitable organizations. In our society if you are a consumer (which you are) then you are a someone.

http://www.maryboonegallery.com/artist_info/pages/kruger/detail1.html This is the link to the website I got the image from. 

[aliyalh]

I found this picture and I though that it really spoke to the historical events of the first Europeans coming to North America but the thought that the European settlers not only introduced the material goods but also the concept that went along with them. They introduced consumerism and materialism. This picture also shows that we area the mercy of consumerism.

Unfortunately the link for this image doesn't work anymore so I couldn't include it.  

[aliyalh]

Unfortunately I couldn't find the entire cartoon but I found this really entertaining. You can tell through the animation that this cartoon is obviously from a while back, but it still shows how basic consumerism works. It shows how we buy more than what we really need and how our wants outgrow our needs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwppBm43eb8 This is the link to the video on Youtube 

[aliyalh]

I came across this collection of images on a website depicting the "all american" house wife from the 50s. These advertisements are selling consumerism! The advertisements while not real demonstrate how consumerism targets everyone for different reasons for example in the first add they are saying that the perfect family uses brand names only. I think that the most powerful line for myself is Consumerism-Not just an American product, an American way of life. This statement is completely true! It's no longer "Im out of this... oh well i'll just get some from the garden" it is "I'm out of this... I'll just quickly run to the grocery store" 

http://www.deviantart.com/morelikethis/122296315?view_mode=2#skins  

[aliyalh]

You are not what you own.

Unknown

[aliyalh]

To live fully, we must learn to use things and love people, and not love things and use people.

John Powell 

[aliyalh]

Are these things really better than the things I already have? Or am I just trained to be dissatisfied with what I have now?

Chuck Palahniuk

[aliyalh]

Canada vs. USA Debate

In class we addressed the question "Which economic system best answers the economic question of scarcity in order to provide a better quality of life for its citizens: Canada or the USA? My class was given the challenge of arguing for the USA against Canada. Before the debate I strongly struggled with defending the USA's economic system. While my partner and I were debating I started to realize the fact that the USA's value on the individual is not the worst thing in the world and heath care there compared to here had it's own ups and downs. But by the end of the discussion I realized it really is matter of opinion, would you rather pay extra money for quicker and better quality health care and know that your money is going towards yourself, not your community. Or pay less directly but more in taxes and insurance for your entire communities health care to make sure everyone has the same opportunity. My family has switched over to private healthcare and personally I think that it has benefited myself more than anyone else in the community. But at sometimes it is definitely worth paying more because  my family doesn't need to wait too long for treatment and the 2 hour wait in a walkin clinic has turned into a 10 minute wait in a comfortable waiting room. Some people may see this as I value myself more than my community. This is not true, I value my community but on this issue i’d rather take care of myself and in all reality my family still pays taxes to help the rest of the community. In conclusion I think that Canada's system is effective and promotes equality. But I do think that citizens deserve a private health care option while still paying taxes to other social programs including health care. I think that  a mixed economy is better than a market economy. Though the Alberta taxation model everyone gives equal shares based on their income to all social programs in the community such as child care, health care, pensions, assisted income etc. None of the points brought to me by the other team really changed my mind but what did was a resource that my partner and I found, it showed the wait time for basic procedure in Canada vs the wait times in USA or Canadian private health care, it also showed the cost. I think that everyone needs to help the local community but everyone should have the option to give themselves a better life.Since I live in Canada and have the choice between private and public health care and I have been in the private system for a number of years it makes me think that the American health care is alright, but if I lived in America I could think differently and wish to be in the Canadian system and be able to choose what kind of health care I would put my family in.

The website that my partner and I found is http://timelymedical.ca/ this one has the costs. 

This link is another article we found that mentions more about our health care plans http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-insurance/articles/2012/08/07/how-to-find-the-best-health-insurance-plan-for-you?int=b35934

[aliyalh]

Frank Ocean - Not Just Money

This is a link to the song Not Just Money by frankocean from his album Channel Orange. This song is a mother giving her child a lecture about money if you read the lyrics (posted below) you will see the value of money in our consumeristic society. I think that this song is a good example of the fact that money is happiness to millions, if not billions of people on our earth. 

This song really spoke to me about our topic and I was extremely excited I could relate my favourite artist to my school work!

Lyrics: Frank Ocean- Not Just Money

Stop thinking of this as being money

It’s not just money, I’mma make more

No, no no no no no

Please decondition yourself

It’s not just money

It’s happiness

It’s the difference between happy, being happy and sad

It’s the difference between having a home and living on the streets

That’s what it is, it’s not just money

It’s so much more than that

Right now it’s the difference between you being able to go to a prom

And disappointing a girl

As I told you from the beginning, I don’t have money

I have bills to pay, but that meant nothing to you

Absolutely nothing

Let’s see, I have

Ooh yeah, I’mma make myself a hot link when I get home

It meant nothing to you

Saving my seven dollars

[aliyalh]

http://9gag.com/gag/6352435 

I found this image and I think that it is really speaking to the fact that we buy what we don't need but want. I especially like that all of the products are well recognized brands because many people think that you need this brand to be cool, or be someone. When in reality it's just another piece of s**t that will end up being thrown away at the end of the day.

[aliyalh]

http://procra-illustration.blogspot.ca/2011/02/consumerism-for-kids-zine-project.html

I found this blog with "consumerism for kids" images. I found this image to be the most powerful. I think that it demonstrates the fact that media has evolved from something to offer entertainment to families to nothing more but yet another tool in the consumerism game. We all are targeted to buy products to use services and it the medias advertisements work. We all remember the brands we used to love as young children and when we see it now we get excited and buy it over again. We buy things we don't need but want. I think this picture is a perfect example of how no one isn't being targeted, as well as the fact that companies are stepping up their game from the first radio broadcast to targeting small children. In a way this picture shows how millions of children and adults are being brainwashed with the idea that they need something so insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

[aliyalh]

GINS And Consumerism mashup!

In the film The Pursuit of Happyness we see one man and his family living with a large amount of debt struggling to get through life and his journey through abandonment, homelessness, and many other struggles. I found this movie extremely eye opening and very well written. The most powerful element for myself were the juxtapositions. One of the most powerful moments in the movie for me was when you see a convertible driving past the homeless shelter and not really noticing their surroundings it is comparing the wealthy population to the homeless population. I think that this really demonstrates the fact the homelessness happens in every country in the world but many people either pretend to not notice or do anything, or the people who try to create change. I think that the main theme that came out of the movie for myself is that you have to work for happiness and  not everything is just given to you in life. I found this a good theme because the main character (Chris) finds that he wants to be a stockbroker instead of a door to door salesmen. In the beginning  This is also a fatal example of the fact that in our world, you  need money to be happy or survive. While this is extremely sad it is true, yes if we have family we can be happy but we cannot live a normal life without  supporting the family whom we love so much. Because myself and my family live in Canada we are honored to receive financial help if anyone needs it. From pension plans to senior citizens to assisted income for the people in the community who need help. Even if you are homeless in the city of Calgary the Drop in Center helps homeless people who deserve a second chance get one and get relocated to their own homes. But in Chris’s story the shelter he went to he was not even guaranteed a temporary home. Because of our governments taxation model our homeless system is effective and well taken care of. But in the city where Chris and his family lived the homes available were not as understanding and it seemed like the government didn’t put as much value on the homeless situation and used the public taxes in other areas.  We used to be told that money isn’t everything but now people my age are getting jobs for what? For money so that they can live and be happy. There is a quote that says, “If money didn’t exists, we’d all be happy.” -Unknown I think that this is a really good example of how money in our society separates every citizen  by income and demonstrates the idea that the higher income you receive the happier you will.

[aliyalh]

The Pursuit of Happyness

          In the film The Pursuit of Happyness we see one man and his family living with a large amount of debt struggling to get through life and his journey through abandonment, homelessness, and many other struggles. I found this movie extremely eye opening and very well written. The most powerful element for myself were the juxtapositions. One of the most powerful moments in the movie for me was when you see a convertible driving past the homeless shelter and not really noticing their surroundings it is comparing the wealthy population to the homeless population. I think that this really demonstrates the fact the homelessness happens in every country in the world but many people either pretend to not notice or do anything, or the people who try to create change. I think that the main theme that came out of the movie for myself is that you have to work for happiness and  not everything is just given to you in life. I found this a good theme because the main character (Chris) finds that he wants to be a stockbroker instead of a door to door salesmen. In the beginning  This is also a fatal example of the fact that in our world, you  need money to be happy or survive. While this is extremely sad it is true, yes if we have family we can be happy but we cannot live a normal life without  supporting the family whom we love so much. Because myself and my family live in Canada we are honored to receive financial help if anyone needs it. From pension plans to senior citizens to assisted income for the people in the community who need help. Even if you are homeless in the city of Calgary the Drop in Center helps homeless people who deserve a second chance get one and get relocated to their own homes. But in Chris’s story the shelter he went to he was not even guaranteed a temporary home. Because of our governments taxation model our homeless system is effective and well taken care of. But in the city where Chris and his family lived the homes available were not as understanding and it seemed like the government didn’t put as much value on the homeless situation and used the public taxes in other areas.  We used to be told that money isn’t everything but now people my age are getting jobs for what? For money so that they can live and be happy. There is a quote that says, “If money didn’t exists, we’d all be happy.” -Unknown I think that this is a really good example of how money in our society separates every citizen  by income and demonstrates the idea that the higher income you receive the happier you will. The photos below are scenes from the movie, I tried to get a picture of the convertible going past the homeless shelter but they weren't in the same frame so I took pictures of both images separately,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56AYfXzUvFY This is where I got these two pictures. (I just took screen shots of the things I needed)