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CAPITALISM/RELIGION/AMERICA/POLITICS
’Tis the Season to Want Stuff
Waste and greed are simply byproducts of capitalism, but the roots of these desires run much deeper
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Wrapping up the Christmas season has its perks.
Many of us received gifts. Some of these were appreciated. Some of these were returned. Whether you participated in the frenzy of Black Friday or the rush to gobble up clearance items the day after Christmas or simply shopped small, many of us in the U.S. get consumed in the season of giving.
Children scrutinized the extensive toy ad books from big box stores, highlighting the trendiest, must-have toys of the year, and carefully curated their lists for Santa.
TV commercials and, with increasing frequency, social media ads, may have convinced us of what gifts our families want. (For the record, I never dreamed of a Lexus with a big red bow in the driveway from my husband.)
Our Christmas photos shared on social media may have made us well up with pride, seeing so many beautifully wrapped gifts under an exquisitely decorated tree. It may have even made a friend go out and buy more gifts.