I agree it's unethical for companies to push us to consume, but it feels like you're implying we have no agency in it. Rejecting consumerism is a great first step on the path to happiness, in my opinion - and isn't limited to the ultra-wealthy by any means.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I never said or even implied we have no agency, but I'm also not deluded enough to think we have free choice under capitalism. We are not only literally indoctrinated from birth and essentially brainwashed our entire lives from that point in to consumerism and "keeping up with the Joneses", but we are also entirely dependant on participation in the system for survival because it is designed that way. You wanting to think you're somehow above it (even if you have learned to identify some of the propaganda and try to avoid it, which is simply impossible to do), or wanting to blame those who aren't "above it" for the system instead of those actively implementing and profiting directly from it, doesn't change that.

Freedom, and specifically freedom of choice, is capitalism's biggest con.