America Beyond Consumerism

Instead of regarding more income as a good in itself, we could alter our political economy so that it provides what Americans really need and want: greater employment security, stronger protection against the pitfalls of poverty, and more free time. We could choose to have the public guarantee employment opportunities for every willing worker, to put a floor on income, to decommodify health care and education, to reduce the gross inequalities of incomes and status which themselves help fuel consumerism, and to take future productivity growth in the form of more time, not more stuff. |