Notice that the advice we get for how to deal with the economic troubles is to cut back, get thrifty, and economize. But then we are told in the same newspaper that for the economy to get better, consumers have to start spending.
The normal way businesses have got us to spend is advertising. Could it be that we have become so super-saturated with advertising that we have become resistant to its attempts to manipulate us and so are refusing to obey it anymore? Should the bailout bill give more dollars to consumer research to develop more effective means of advertising?
We also have always spent to replace products that have worn out. Like cars. With the first cars I owned, I felt lucky to coax them to 100,000 miles before they fell apart. Lately, my cars have lasted twice as long. Is the problem with the auto industry that their products have become too good? Should the bailout bill mandate that GM make cars of lesser quality?
We also spend to buy things we need. Do we already have everything?
What can be done to increase consumer spending?
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