Aggressive marketing makes us feel discontent. Advertisers tell us that our lives are incomplete until we buy their latest product. The problem is that most of us can't afford to buy new products all the time. This creates tension between what we're told we should have, and what we can afford to have.
In addition, the focus on selfish materialism has left us empty, unfulfilled, alone, unhappy, and in debt. Even if we buy new products, the pleasures are fleeting and we're left feeling even more empty than before. We buy things we can't afford. We buy things that don't make us happy. This creates an underlying feeling of frustration, dissatisfaction and resentment. We're left feeling cheated, manipulated and exploited.
Is aggressive marketing responsible for looting?
We need to simplify our lives. If we focus only on meeting our basic needs: food, water, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education etc., all other redundant goods and services would disappear.
In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.
Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.
