As the century nears its close in an overpopulated world, the industrially developed countries increasingly corporate culture fosters a climate of a consumerist work ethic to support a growing number of useless people. Lives are dictated by the use of trademarked brand names and their corporate interests to increase profit share by identifying lifestyle with products. Mindless, lowest common denominator entertainment is provided as a reward or the goal of life. Much of the workforce exists only to provide these unnecessary services and products - work exists only to earn money to live and buy them. The increasing number of people exist only to serve the interests of this corporate culture. No real human needs are fulfilled by this culture, nor spiritual or higher social goals fostered. Where is the meaning of life amid this crassness? With no goals there is only a mindless existence that requires the passive palliatives of television, movies, computer games, pop music, etc. to distract and prevent people from thinking that there must be something more to life. The entertainment industry is becoming one of the the largest sectors of the economy, but its products are basically throw-aways that do nothing to build a stable and lasting infrastructure. This culture exists entirely to feed the fleeting desires of greater numbers. And the market must direct these desires and narrow the focus of human ideals and endeavors. Where in this is a free individuality, so seemingly prized in America?

Then what is the worth of people in this culture? We seem to take pride that we can support so many people and offer them a great array of attractive products and services, but is this a valid and good value? Is this the only definition of quality of life? Our society has no goals. Technological/scientific progress is our myth, often mistaken for a goal, but where will it take us? We are not in control of it, so we can't know where it will lead us. We have no overarching ethic directing its development and use. The economy is not geared to meet real human needs, only the artificial ones of a constantly increasing consumer base. It appears as a competition only to make more money, in reality it is purely a means of political power. Corporations have become political entities fighting each other for power over our lives. Quality of product, service and social responsibility are not their goals, only bottom-line profit.

The needs and desires of a vastly increasing number of people are reducing the quality of life for all as we compete against each other for ever scarcer resources. And everyone wants the standard of living of middle-class Americans with all their unnecessary consumption and wastefulness. This is not possible.

Conspicuous consumption is a way to demonstrate social superiority and political power. It has always been so. What we can own defines our lives. The Hollywood glitterati are most guilty of this. And we have come to expect this of them and wish to emulate them. But where is the compassion for the unfortunate or a willingness to sacrifice for a better society? It appears that we are distancing ourselves from a growing underclass. Surrounding ourselves with things as protection against losing social status is a sham and only a hedge against a gnawing internal doubt that isolates us from humanity.

Why don't we stop ourselves? Are we like lemmings, fated to overpopulate and then destroy ourselves? So many civilizations have suffered a similar fate as resources ran out and famine and disease raged through the population. Religions are part of the problem, urging this uncontrolled increase.

And what of these useless people? Shouldn't the quality of life for individuals be maximized rather than the quantity of lives? It's a sad commentary on our civilization. Sad that so many people cannot live lives of greater accomplishment and fulfillment because they are only masses of consumers - interchangable, replaceable and expendable - all to keep the mills of a political economy running to an unknown future.