The Absolute Value Of America - 1555 Words

The Absolute Value of America Transactions at a local corner store, the purchase of a fresh cup of coffee in the morning, and the credit card debt accumulated through the buying of miscellaneous objects on the internet, are just a few contributors to the most powerful â€Å"ism† that powers America. From the 1920s to the present day America has been driven by consumerism. Consumerism- in its simplest form- is defined as the buying and selling of products. When tracing the evolution of consumerism in America, one must explore many factors that led up to today’s consumerist culture; the economic ups and downs of the 1920s through the 1950s, the anti-consumerist movement in the 1960s, and people’s obsession with material items in modern society. The 1920s, also known as the â€Å"Roaring twenties,† was a time of increased wealth and prosperity for some. After World War I, production in America increased dramatically due to inventions such as the assembly line and little to no government interference in business. People were able to revel in the new developments that came out of this decade: cars, radio, jazz, vacuums, refrigerators, washing machines, movies, and many other advancements that improved quality of life. Another advancement that people enjoyed was the arrival of credit; â€Å"the ability to obtain goods, money, or services in return for a promise to pay at some later date† (Dictionary). Credit had been around previously but it was never as prominent or widely used as it wasShow MoreRelatedAmerica Today : Social Justice785 Words   |  4 PagesIn America today, Social Justice involves claims for government provisions through a revised fairness doctrine. Delivered from the days, where obtaining value required human knowledge and effort. Now, social progressives use regulatory force to acquire one s desires. Subsequently, the notion to produce desirable goods by rational thought and action, production and voluntary exchange, gives way to forcibly demanding goods from those who can supply them. In his first term, President Obama struggledRead More`` Promise, By Romeo Santos Featuring Usher1283 Words   |  6 Pagesmany songs that can have can absolute value to an individual and at the same time be another persons â€Å"habitus† with relative value. The song I have chosen to analyze is â€Å"Promise†, by Romeo Santos featuring Usher. This song portrays such a situation. This specific song is one in which I self-consciously fell in love with no particular reason other then the fact that I love the music and the lyrics. 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I firmly believe that taking both the main valued approaches from the Traditional and Progressive Philosophies provides strong disciplinary focuses and knowledge integration. The combination of the two philosophies allows for a positive insight to all educational philosophies. Keeping the mind open to these philosophies allow for flexibility and stability in the classroom for schools, teachers and students. In my position statement I will discuss what values from TraditionalRead MoreSame-Sex Marriage Essay1536 Words   |  7 Pagesotherwise all of the civil rights and equality Americans have worked hard means nothing. Therefore, a same-sex couple has the absolute right to legally marry. Today, it would seem that every citizen in the United States has a right to be treated equally, with the same rights and privileges as anyone else. But, a continuously growing community of gay men and women in America would disagree. 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