Commercialism has invaded our society. Commercialism is defined as the inappropriate or excessive emphasis on profit, success or immediate results. This obsession to make money and be successful in as little time as possible is not something that effects a small segment of our society, but something that effects almost every part of it in some way.

Companies are in business to, hopefully, offer a service and make a profit. However, the desire to turn a profit often overshadows what might be best for the consumer. Companies feed consumers messages about how they need a certain product regardless of how valuable that product is. Companies are bent on making a dollar and will strive to create a lust for their product in the consumer.

In commercialism, companies decide what the consumers want and tell them as opposed to the consumer telling the companies what they need and want. Companies feed consumers the idea that they need their product and many of the products being pushed are not necessary and in fact make no real practical sense. But the companies are not worried about what makes sense they are focused on making money at any cost. They appeal to people’s insecurities about not matching up, not having the best of the best, or not having something that everyone else has.

The most attractive models and celebrities are used to market products to “average” people. The idea being that if the celebrities or “beautiful people” have it, then it must be good and most people long to live like celebrities. Companies want you to feel that you too must have their product and consumers are buying in to it. Instead of consumers dictating what sells companies are determining what they need and are making big bucks off people that are buying into the message that they must have the latest gadget or new technology that is going to revolutoinize their life.

Taking a look at some of the new products coming out, every day it seems like, can help clarify how much commercialism has a hold on our society. Some of the stuff seems so ridiculous, but yet there is still a strong desire for that product. Consumers are buying into the myth that they need it to be happy, to have a full life, to get the guy or girl of their dreams etc.

A recent newpaper article highlighted a new technology that will make our lives better. It’s a bathing suit fitted with solar panels that connects via a wire into a cell phone, Ipod or other electronic device with a compatible input. Why? So you don’t have to worry about your phone or Ipod dying on you while you’re at the beach or the pool. You can recharge your phone and get a tan at the same time. Sounds ridicoulous but this is the kind of stuff companies are spending their time and money on developing and on telling us that we need.

Companies have gotten consumers to believe they must have the latest and greatest. If consumers were to stop buying into the marketing of products, only buy what they need and start demanding that companies create products that are actually useful, or environmentaly friendly etc., then commercialism might lose some of its power, but it does not appear that that will happen anytime soon. If anything, commercialism seems to be growing every day.