#5 Consumer Freedom

Consumer Freedom

After watching the video on our blog prompt by the Center for Consumer Freedom http://bit.ly/2hovuh I was not convinced they were truly fighting for the consumer's best interest. I felt like this video was more propaganda than anything else. I was a little suprised to see them call out the Center for Science in the Public Interest http://bit.ly/e8Fl5, and PETA http://bit.ly/a55SEt. Not that I am a big supporter of either, I think it is important to research more about some of the issues before I decide where I stand.

When I researched more about the Center for Consumer Freedom I found that they call themselves "a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting personal responsibility and protecting consumer choices." Sounds good...


 The Center for Consumer Freedom makes a good point that what Americans eat should not be dictated by small groups of people. The CCF claims they were founded to counter groups which tell us how to live our lives like PETA. The CCF even claims that these organizations think we are too stupid to choose for ourselves.




But don't all of these groups have good agendas like protecting animals and fighting obeasity? I thought this was odd, and I began to realize what the CCF is all about.


I explored more about the Center for Science in the Public Interest and found that they are fighting many food related issues in our country. Including food labeling, marketing to kids, excessive salt, soft drinks, trans fats, and fast food menues. Many Americans do not think about what they are eating, rather they eat what is cheap, tasty, or convenient. 


So what would Raj Patel think about the Center for Consumer Freedoms claims? I think he would ask about who the CCF is targeting? I think they could be targeting fat white people from the middle and lower classes with little education.






Patel might also ask the CCF, dose everyone have choice or do only a select few choose what we consume? Choice is an illusion, and I think Patel would point out that the CCF is helping create this illusion. Some people think choice is Taco Bell vs. Burger King thanks to mirage artists like the CCF.




I think Patel would point out that organizations like the Center for Science in the Public Interest are not trying to control what we consume rather these groups are trying to take control away from the corporations who already dictate consumers. The majority of Americans don't even have a choice about what they eat, they only eat what they can afford and what is convenient to buy. We eat what is placed in front of us. I pick Granny Smith apples when I go grocery shopping because Guavas are not sold at Dissmores, not because I would rather have apples over Guavas.
  






When watching the video for blog #5 its hard to tell if the CCF is working in the consumer's interest because they don't mention anything about how the consumer's choices are already controlled. The CCF refuses to mention anything about how corporations control America, but rather attacks groups who are fighting against real issues in our country, like obeasity. The CCF is more about ripping off consumers and confusing them with PR bullshit than protecting our choices. The CCF is only a front, set up to benefit large corporations who get away with exploiting the world and its people.






Bottleneck corporations use their power to control both consumers and producers. Money is the carrot placed in front of our face. Along with the thought and dream that one day peasants can earn some of the wealth controlled by corporations. Corporations control their power and image with advertising, PR, and good old fashioned deception. Large corporations use Rick Berman AKA "DR. Evil" to battle activist groups. His expertise in public relations allows him to craft and bend the publics perception. Power is wielded through third parties like Berman Co. who simply lie to consumers.






This gentleman is a little "extreme" but he makes some great points about the CCF, like who pays them? http://bit.ly/sexneq





http://bit.ly/rT5xEL Here is another video I found while researching.
Read more at the center for consumer deception. http://bit.ly/aR8cHO






http://bit.ly/v0ZXfu Here is another one... "Smells like money."






Consumption can shape the market but consumers must organize and use their numbers to out weigh the few with power. Michael moore made a great comparison in his recent documentary, Capitalism A Love Story, when he said that every dollar we spend is like a vote. In a way its true, we choose which product we like more or which product is better. Boycotts can work if enough people participate. But on the other hand, some corporations control a monopoly which can negate our ability to shape the market.


Consumer freedom is a good concept. I agree with its principals but not with the CCF. I think we should have freedom to choose what we want to buy without paying extra for what we want. But at the same time massive companies in the fast food, tobacco, and alcohol industries have become rich by killing their consumers. Ethics needs to triumph profits, but it rarely dose in America. This is part of our issue with internationalism.


In America we have "sin taxes" on tobacco and alcohol and I think it is fair to tax fast food harder too. I think if we know products like these are harmful they need to be strictly regulated so people who don't know better don't ruin their lives before they learn better. It is clear that people of minority, lower social status, and with less money have less consumer freedom. The cost of consumption is poverty and everything that goes along with it including poor health care, education, employment, housing, pollution, and more. This is the cost that the peasants pays in order for the royalty of our country to prosper. Groups like the CCF are ways for our royalty to erase the damage caused by their greed and production.