We don't feel the need to consume-consume-consume, and we certainly aren't brainwashed. This is really uncalled for - we do like a certain standard of living, but it doesn't mean we're brainwashed consumption machines born to satisfy an economic purpose as laid out by the federal reserve.
Yes, most of my friends have playstations, flat screen TVs, and leased cars. Some of this stuff is financed by debt. But they do lead a pretty good life and they're not crippled by debt or three backbreaking jobs.
We love to play, and we work hard to do it. It's a different mindset - there is no reason to be insulting.
> This is really uncalled for - we do like a certain standard of living, but it doesn't mean we're brainwashed consumption machines […]
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> Yes, most of my friends have playstations, flat screen TVs, and leased cars.
See? That's how brainwashing works: you don't realize it. That's the point.
And it's just as easy to say that Europeans have been brainwashed to say things like all Americans are brainwashed to consume, consume, consume. It's a highly condescending argument on several levels to make sweeping statements like that about people who have different motivations for doing what they do.
We might as well all be brainwashed, there's no proving we're not if that's your argument.
The original poster in this thread was being insulting and condescending. There's no other way to look at it, whether he meant to or not.
You do realize the US has one of the highest debt to income ratios in the world. So while your friends aren't drowning in debt, the picture for the rest of the country doesn't look so rosey.
Doesn’t look so bad for Germany anymore if you consider there will be a tomorrow, does it?
I know, this is a simplification to, but it’s up to you to investigate further using a little more trustworthy source than something like “Loans & Debt Consolidation - Get Cash NOW!”
How does buying stuff on credit increase your standard of living? At short notice, this may be the case, but this kind of behaviour is not sustainable. You know, there will be a day when the bills become due. What are you going to do then? Pass them on to your children?
It is really weird that Americans feel “we’re rich, you’re not” because of all the things they “possess” (on credit).
I wonder how many members of these armies of homeless that populate the US streets are where they are because they lived a live today they couldn’t even afford tommorrow.
Yes, most of my friends have playstations, flat screen TVs, and leased cars. Some of this stuff is financed by debt. But they do lead a pretty good life and they're not crippled by debt or three backbreaking jobs.
We love to play, and we work hard to do it. It's a different mindset - there is no reason to be insulting.