David L. Bahnsen: No, AOC, Capitalism Isn’t Too “Consumerist” Around the Holidays

Critics of capitalism like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Look at Madison Avenue storefronts covered in holiday decorations. “case in point” — a beautiful and spiritual time like Advent and Hanukkah is reduced to shopping, sales and accumulation of goods. You may feel the same when you look at piles full of ripped-up wrapping.

Indeed, it’s a common critique that a free-market economy inevitably becomes overly “consumerist” — that market forces lead people to value things only in a commercial context and miss out on humanity’s deeper values.

This old criticism appears to be losing currency. September Pew poll It was found that 79% of Americans between 18 and 29 have had a sex relationship with a woman. “very” Oder “somewhat” Positive view of socialism A 2019 Siena College poll It was found that the majority of New Yorkers young see no contradiction between socialism, being a good American and socialism.

Pew’s September poll revealed that 79% of Americans between 18 and 29 have had an abortion. “very” Oder “somewhat” Positive view of socialism. Getty Images/Cavan Images RF

Cultural observation that Americans become too consumer-minded during holidays can be used to attack the market economy. Somehow we’re to believe that Americans would be less materialistic, less commercial and less superficial if only the state played a larger role in society’s economic transactions.

Don’t buy it for a second.

This holiday season, free marketeers can be positive These are three reasons to be optimistic:

A chronic case of half-empty glasses. One can understand seeing the exorbitant number of TV commercials and shopping-mall parking challenges and concluding we’ve reduced the holidays to a consumer tale. It is important to remember that people buy the vast majority of these items for family and friends they love. What should we be focusing on?