TITLE:
Consumerism in American Society and the Role of Government
AUTHORS:
Fred Bedell
KEYWORDS:
Consumerism, Role of Government, Corrupt System and Politicians, Health, Generically Modified Foods (GM), Affordable Care Act (ACA), Consumptive Society, Corporate Influence over the Legislature, Health Care Reform, Counterfeit Goods
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.1 No.8,
November
26,
2014
ABSTRACT: This essay speaks to the fact that the United States is a consumptive society, as we are dependent on producers to provide the goods and services necessary to maintain our daily living requirements. It addresses a correlation between historical policies and presents events and practices that continue to undermine public policies that benefit the consumer. Most importantly, the role of government is to provide health and safety for the population and protect it from a corrupt political system that places us at risk for the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. Mike Leibovich in his book “This Town” refers to Washington DC as the “Gilded Capital,” because in his view there is an incestuous relationship among the law firms, politicians, media, and lobbying firms whose agendas are not often in the public’s interest. We will examine in detail three areas—food, health care, and the counterfeiting of goods—that are of paramount interest to the nation and examples of the point of the essay.