What is the thesis statement?
In the essay "Shop 'til We Drop?, Robert J. Samuelson thesis is that “Americans find pleasure in spending money and being the consumers of the world” Robert get further into detail on how consumption becomes an engine of envy, and why Americans feel compelled to buy products and what forces them to have an “I want” mentality.
What are three ideas that you found striking, scary, intriguing, or otherwise remarkable?
The essay was pretty interesting and very relatable, but three ideas that I found remarkable was that, “In 2002, consumer spending accounted for 70 percent of U.S. national income (gross domestic product), which is a modern American record, and a much higher figure than in any other advanced nation” and just based off of 2002 imagining what that percent is now in 2017 has it decrease or increase overall. Another idea I found very striking was that “Over six decades, we’ve gone from being a society uneasy with credit to a society that rejoices in it. In 1946, household debt was 22 percent of personal disposable income. Now, it’s roughly 110 percent”. And lastly that I wasn't really surprised when the author talked about how they continue to flock to shopping malls, automobile dealers, cruise ships, and health clubs. There are always, it seems new wants and needs …show more content…
For example, Apple released the iPhone 8 in September, then released a new phone the iPhone X. Due to popular demand, more people want the newer phone cause they feel like they need it. IN America we live off of our shinning others, so for some having that newer model allows them to feel as if they are better than
In the essay "Shop 'til We Drop?, Robert J. Samuelson thesis is that “Americans find pleasure in spending money and being the consumers of the world” Robert get further into detail on how consumption becomes an engine of envy, and why Americans feel compelled to buy products and what forces them to have an “I want” mentality.
What are three ideas that you found striking, scary, intriguing, or otherwise remarkable?
The essay was pretty interesting and very relatable, but three ideas that I found remarkable was that, “In 2002, consumer spending accounted for 70 percent of U.S. national income (gross domestic product), which is a modern American record, and a much higher figure than in any other advanced nation” and just based off of 2002 imagining what that percent is now in 2017 has it decrease or increase overall. Another idea I found very striking was that “Over six decades, we’ve gone from being a society uneasy with credit to a society that rejoices in it. In 1946, household debt was 22 percent of personal disposable income. Now, it’s roughly 110 percent”. And lastly that I wasn't really surprised when the author talked about how they continue to flock to shopping malls, automobile dealers, cruise ships, and health clubs. There are always, it seems new wants and needs …show more content…
For example, Apple released the iPhone 8 in September, then released a new phone the iPhone X. Due to popular demand, more people want the newer phone cause they feel like they need it. IN America we live off of our shinning others, so for some having that newer model allows them to feel as if they are better than