8/12/2023 0 Comments Timefactory citizenThe citizen here becomes the consumer out of desire, not utilitarian need. Sadly, the Ford F150 truck still sells better than other vehicles in the U.S, while in reality few people buying a truck in the U.S use one as a truck. This was not even considered the black comedy of greed itself that it was. For example, the 50 year old white woman driving her $80,000 4 Wheel Drive Range Rover meant for scaling the deserts on suburban Florida streets to the grocery store to buy bottled water became the norm. Five years earlier citizens worldwide wanted greater business profits, participated in purchasing goods and services that they could not afford, hunted for bargains and pretended that they were rich themselves. The citizen also became outraged at huge CEO pay levels, bonuses and profits. The year 2008 was a trigger year when businesses, who are also employers of the citizen/consumer, became the “evil rich”. It was easier for the citizen to place guilt solely on the corrupt rich or greedy financial sector with no responsibility ascribed to the combined citizen/consumer. In reality, they voted for and supported each financial step until the bubble burst. When the citizen or consumer is “the prey” they believe fully that they have no responsibility for acts against them. Citizens believed they had nothing to do with the ensuing crisis, forgetting their role every step of the way, including contributions through the votes they cast in support for the acts that occurred. The citizen was caught off guard by the consequent economic crisis and naturally blamed others for everything that went wrong. The Citizen subsequently learnt about the vast corruption within the financial sector, the improprieties involved with the housing market, government supported mortgages and the impending burst of the massive bubble. was in the “Wild West” state of non-regulation, stock trading, cash derivative bets and options trading that were at all time highs. At the same time the stock market in the U.S. helping to push loans through for citizens with inadequate abilities to finance mortgages. Bank improprieties for example are blamed for the loose mortgage financing that was further fueled by government institutions worldwide such as Freddie Mac, etc. They have had to rely on false and/or incomplete information about why it happened. Most citizens did not know what actually caused the economic crash. Since the 2008 massive worldwide economic crash, moods have changed. This is the schizophrenia of how the U.S. As the citizen and consumer are the same person we create conflict in our own thinking and in what we communicate about ourselves. At the same time consumers demand the lowest prices and expect the corporation or franchisee of a restaurant to absorb the higher labor cost. Many of the citizens are outraged that firms like Wal-Mart or fast food restaurants appear to pay less than a livable wage. The Consumer, the other side of the citizen, wants to buy everything at the lowest price, eat as much as they can, and shop for bargains. Their actions suggest the desire for a system that generates less profit for business and improved "fair trade” that is linked to the "cost of living". For example, the citizen wants the best health care, very high wages and minimal control of our economic system by the elite rich and corporations. The use of the words “citizen” and “consumer” to many would appear to be synonymous when in actual fact, there are often conflicts between their desires and aspirations that could lead one to believe that these are two different groups of individuals. Chip Evans, Ph.D., Sola Lamikanra, Ph.D., Joy Marshall and Dziko Thunde, MBA
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