Let’s stop gauging people by how much we purchase

MICHELLE SINGLETARY TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST
Published: January 6, 2009

WASHINGTON One of my New Year's resolutions is to stop referring to myself as a consumer.

The idea for the resolution actually came from reader Tom Krohn, who suggested it's not just the country's spending habits that need to change for the better but the language we use to describe who we are.

"We Americans are so used to being referred to as 'consumers' that we comfortably fall into that role and do so conspicuously," Krohn, a retired Navy submariner living in Arkansas, wrote me. "Imagine an epitaph that read, 'Michelle Singletary -- A Wonderful Consumer.' Not very satisfying, is it?"

No, Tom, it's not how I want to live, or die.

We use the word consumer interchangeably when referring to ourselves even when the topic isn't about consuming.

We are no longer citizens but consumers. This recession has proved that things have to change, and still the message from many of our leaders continues to be that consumerism -- consumers -- will save the day.

Consumerism has become a basic component of our American citizenship, contends Lizabeth Cohen in "A Consumers' Republic: The Politics of Mass Consumption in Postwar America."

"By the end of the Depression decade, invoking 'the consumer' would become an acceptable way of promoting the public good, of defending the economic rights and needs of ordinary citizens," writes Cohen, a Harvard professor.

We track closely the results of the Consumer Confidence Survey. Ever wonder why it isn't billed as the survey of confidence among the American people -- moms, dads, engineers, teachers, social workers, bus drivers, doctors, church-goers, etc.? It's not billed that way because we've come to gauge where we stand -- for good or bad -- by people's purchasing intentions.

Why is our confidence driven down by how much less we can spend?

Consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of the nation's gross domestic product. That's bad because much of that spending was made possible by the overuse of credit -- other people's money. Our economy is in a mess today because too many people -- individuals and corporate executives -- believed it was financially savvy to use other people's money.

But you never save when you spend. Never. When you buy things on sale you are still spending money.

Rather than keeping things the same, why don't we again become producers?

"Households and the country need investment, not consumption," says consumerism expert and Boston College professor Juliet B. Schor. "We need to invest in energy conservation, degraded ecosystems, a sustainable food system, education, community building, human connection, and skills for everyday living."

Aren't you weary of being a consumer with all the accompanied debt it requires to keep up this occupation? If so, make 2009 the year you stop defining yourself as a consumer.
Michelle Singletary welcomes comments and column ideas but cannot offer specific personal financial advice. Readers can write to her c/o The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071, or e-mail her at .

Post a Comment

(Requires free registration)

• Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
• Respect others.
• Use the "Report Inappropriate Comment" link when necessary.
• See the Terms and Conditions for details.

Click here to post a comment.

Tags relating to this article:

• No tags are associated with this article.

Can't find what you're looking for? Try our quick search: