Argumentative Essay On Buy Nothing Day

Black Friday shopping is a controversial issue in the United States; while many believe the day after Thanksgiving is a part of holiday festivities, others view it as destructive. Throughout “Black Friday: Consumerism Minus Civilization,” Andrew Leonard argues that the chaos of Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in which crowds of Americans shop all night for extremely low prices, lessens the sophistication of Americans and the true meaning of the holidays. People become so consumed in the idea of endless sale prices that they forget to embrace what they already have, such as family, food, and shelter. He believes that Black Friday shopping has become out of control and describes the negative effects of excessive consumerism. he explains how most consumers act completely insane while Black Friday shopping and how society encourages this behavior by creating commercials and advertisements. Furthermore, Leonard states that it hurts the economy and damages one’s mental health. While Leonard is probably wrong when he claims that Black Friday shopping is completely troublesome to America’s well-being, he is right that consumerism overpowers the true significance of Thanksgiving.

Andrew Leonard's "Black Friday: Consumerism Minus Civilization" argues that the Black Friday shopping spree has begun to get out of hand in the previous years. Leonard explains that consumerism is a great thing for America, but showing Americans that it is okay to go crazy when shopping for deals is not the way to approach the buying markets. He mentions a Target advertisement and states that, "The Crazy Target Lady is not a joke. Watch her cannibalize her gingerbread man, or strategize her reverse psychology shopping techniques... she is America. She might be a lunatic, but it's a culturally approved lunacy" (Leonard 166). The author emphasizes how Americans embrace the acts of the target lady as funny and amusing, but during Black Friday shopping, some shoppers will take the night to the extreme like the advertisement does. He does remind us that there is light at the end of the tunnel, by reporting how shoppers are seeing the problems with the night of crazy shopping. I agree with Leonard that there are problems with Black Friday ads, and that consumers are realizing Black Friday shopping is taking away from Thanksgiving.

In reading Anna Quindlen’s¬¬ 2008 op-ed, “Stuff Is Not Salvation”, she briefs the reader on the horrors of American consumerism. Her piece starts with a morbid detail of a Wal-Mart employee that was trampled to death during a Black Friday Sale. She goes on to summarize how the shoppers continued to grab items even after the management announced that the store was closed. Quindlen also sprinkles her work with several statistics. Though there are many valid points that these statistics bring, she doesn’t provide a reference nor citation to these points. Quindlen also has a small scope on those whom live frugal and fruitfully. Quindlen focuses only a handful of personal experiences, mentioning friends who falter, and small rural farmers in Pennsylvania.

Buy Nothing Day is a day in which people are encouraged to not purchase any goods. The first Buy Nothing Day was in Canada in 1922. Buy Nothing Day is to increase the awareness of excessive consumerism. Buy Nothing Day could benefit the economy in many ways like; it teaches people what it is like to not easily buy things, it will make the people appreciate things more, and it saves money.

First, the day called Buy Nothing Day helps to understand what it would be like to buy nothing for one day. The change impact is different to different people. Some people originally do not spend a lot and some people do. Those who do not spend a lot originally, they most likely will not see

The article "Buy Nothing Bay" by Mark Bayle. The publisher is Permaculture: Inspiration for Sustainable Living. The author's purpose for writing is to persuade and inform the reader. Bayle tries to convince the reader that in a "Buy Nothing Day" you can have many benefits. The author is also trying to inform the reader by telling them the difference between economics and freeconomics.

In 1992, Canada introduced the first Buy Nothing Day. On this day people are persuaded to refrain from buying anything to help encourage the awareness of excessive consumerism. Excessive consumerism has been an ongoing problem here in the United States. In the current era, there is too much of an emphasis on commercialism, that people are associating happiness with material items, which is why Buy Nothing Day needs to be a national holiday in the United States. Money makes the world go round, and some would argue that if there was just one day that no economic traffic occurred, the outcome would detrimental to the economy of the United States.

Before discussing the pros of a Buy Nothing Day, we must understand the reason why it can be beneficial. Consumerism, the purchase of goods or services, is typically seen as a fantastic way to boost the economy but everything has a limit. Excessive consumerism, or the act of buying too many goods and services, can become a major issue for any economic system. For instance, in the 1920’s there was a huge economic boom which created a consumer revolution. Eventually, this led to The Great Depression that left many Americans struggling

We should not use the penny because it costs more than a penny to make a penny. An article from the Baltimore Sun says that “the penny is probably safe until it starts costing more money to produce it than the coin is worth.” (Hirsch). If it costs more to make the penny than it is worth, it would be bad because you would lose money and the United States is still in debt.

The very first Buy Nothing Day was organized in Canada in 1992. This is a day that people are encouraged to purchase no goods as a way to increase awareness of excessive consumerism. Since then, an online article has urged worldwide acceptance of taking this 24-hour consumer detox. One day a year where no one purchases anything would be a good establishment because it would give consumers a well needed break, show the government/businesses how crucial consumers are, and give the world a view of life without consumerism.

In 1992 the first “Buy Nothing Day” started in Canada. This “Buy Nothing Day” was an attempt to have a 24hr. consumer detox in order to expose the environmental and ethical consequences of overconsumption. Since then Buy Nothing Day has been held yearly in many countries. With the installment of a yearly Buy Nothing Day in many countries it is obvious to see why many business’ take a hard hit and can take a serious toll on a day in which goods are purchased.

The first ever Buy Nothing Day was held in Canada on 1992. Buy Nothing Day was organized as a day where no goods would be purchased, and as a result of this boycott of goods it would raise awareness of the ethical and environmental implications of overconsumption. This is a great and innovative idea that gives publicity to a neglected issue, which is the implications of overconsumption. Nowadays people do not realize how much damage overconsumption actually does to our world. They fail to realize that their brand new Nike sneakers were made by child labor in a crammed sweatshop somewhere in Asia. They fail to realize how much pollution was released into the environment from mass production in factories, so that they could

The rise of industrialization and manufacturing that began in the eighteenth century has drastically changed the lifestyles of the world. No longer do citizens find, make, or trade for everything they need at home and in their local communities, but instead they rely on national and global commerce to provide for them. This shift in production is the basis for the annual Buy Nothing Day, which attempts to reverse the ill effects of gross consumerism and spread awareness of the issues in our current lifestyles. While many critics would point to the fact that one day will provide little to no discernable impact on the problems faced, Buy Nothing Day will produce greater effects through the awareness it provides than any actual deeds committed on that singular day.

According to the film “Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices” by Robert Greenwald Walmart is a rising controversial organization who exploit their employees, cause harm to the environment, eliminate local business and uses cheap labor in order to produce it's good and maximize profit. One of Walmart strategy to expand its business is to move into small towns and eliminate their competition by lowering their prices compare to local business. Local store owners can’t compete with Walmart low prices and local store owners are a force to sell their business to cover up their expenses. However, the value for local store owners business drops significantly because buyers aren’t willing to pay a high price knowing how hard it is to compete with Walmart if they decided to open their own business. Thus eliminating jobs which lead to increase in unemployment in small towns.

The reason to have an annual Buy Nothing Day would lessen our effect on the environment, even then a little goes a long way. It would lessen our effect because less car, that fill the air with carbon monoxide, would be on the street filled with people with the need to buy goods. This would also decrease gas use. In Addition, a Buy Nothing Day would allow businesses to close and check inventory especial before a holiday like Black Friday, where people are so eager to consume. Lastly it gives people a chance to spend more time with their family and teaches people how to plan, which is very important skill. One does not even have to take part in Buy Nothing Day at all.