Consumerism Consummation

What drives our economy? Producers or consumers? Well, it is a mix of both. If the producers stop producing, then the consumers will have nothing to buy. Seems like they have all the power, right? Wrong. If the producers sell their products for ridiculously high prices, the consumers can stop buying. This shows the producers that they do not have all the power. They cannot do whatever they want, and us consumers are willing to fight back.

A good example of this was the "gas out" in April 1997. For one day in April, no one bought gas, worldwide. This was a huge determent to the gas companies, with them losing billions of dollars. Overnight, gas prices went down by as much as 30 cents a gallon worldwide.

A similar scenario took place in Toronto, Canada much more recently. On April 15, 2011, gas in Toronto reached prices as high as $1.39 a litre. Many people attempted to boycott buying gas for that one day. This, however did not work. Like many other attempted gas boycotts, it fell through. However, it had much potential, with the chance of forcing gas companies to lower their prices by as much as 10 cents a litre!

As you can see, consumers have just as much power as producers, if not more. As long as all of the consumers band together, and act in unison, their power is endless, in a free market or mixed economy, that is.

This cartoon is incredibly relevant to this week's blog. It is showing how unhappy many consumers are, and they feel that they must buy more to become happier, or to "fulfil their empty soul". Although as you can see buy his friend, consumerism and buying does not actually make you happier. Material objects do not make you any more content. Money can't buy you happiness.