Consumerism and its effects on the environment

Another important criticism related to the American Dream is that it increasingly promotes materialism and consumerism, attitudes which end up damaging our environment. Recently, the focus on climate change and the environment has increased all across the Globe.

Consumerism developed as an economic theory which states that being able to buy more is better for consumers. Materialism refers to people wanting to acquire more material things as a means to happiness.

In the US, consumerism started developing in the early 20th century, significant in the motto spread by the General Motors factory in 1919, “Buy now, pay later”. The company used the slogan to advertise giving loans to people, so they could afford to buy cars. The popular phrase “Keeping up with the Joneses” also developed during that time, to reflect p...