Hi Bernard, could you dive into how fit for purpose the consumer confidence index even is? It feels incredibly flawed on a number of levels. Firstly, as you pointed out, due to the fact the statistics do not reconcile with the survey, which reflects the power of certain stories being told and held, regardless of the reality. Secondly, (…
Hi Bernard, could you dive into how fit for purpose the consumer confidence index even is? It feels incredibly flawed on a number of levels. Firstly, as you pointed out, due to the fact the statistics do not reconcile with the survey, which reflects the power of certain stories being told and held, regardless of the reality. Secondly, (and perhaps more importantly) the fact we are still seeking to assess people's engagement and understanding of the economy based on their intended consumption, in a midst of global converging crises, where "consuming" our way out of global warming and biodiversity loss isn't physically possible and in fact perpetuating the crisis. I wonder if it was replaced with a citizen confidence index (informing on engagement on policy and strategy in governments and organisations big and small - per Jon Alexander's suggestion), or removed entirely as a distraction would be more helpful? Cheers, Georgia
I couldn't agree with this comment more, thanks for pointing this out. Personally I loath being considered a 'consumer', makes me feel like a machine of planetary destruction.
I've recently read Jason Hickle's book 'Less is More' on Degrowth, it's brilliant and I'm seeing the status quo economy through a very different lens these days.
100%, Jason Hickel is exceptional. If you enjoyed that, I highly recommend reading Tim Jackson's Postgrowth (ecological economist and also brilliant BBC playwright, so also entertaining) and Jon Alexander's recent book Citizens (not consumers) which explores this from a marketing perspective.
Thanks for the recommendations! Adding them to my list. The way people have been framed as consumers instead of citizens increasingly in news media since the 1970s, is highly problematic.
To share a recommendation back to you, I've really been enjoying the Planet Critical podcast and substack by Rachael Donald. She interviews many incredible systems thinkers https://www.planetcritical.com/
I agree. Language is so important. I watched in disbelief as language change featured so highly as a tool in the palace coup conducted by neoliberals back in the 80s/90s. I worked in psychiatry bad / mental health good. Patients bad / clients consumers good. As professional staff i was consumed until I existed no more and some managers somewhere grew fatter.
We need to reclaim language. I for one feel sick at what I am supposed to consume. We are citizens not consumers.
Hi Bernard, could you dive into how fit for purpose the consumer confidence index even is? It feels incredibly flawed on a number of levels. Firstly, as you pointed out, due to the fact the statistics do not reconcile with the survey, which reflects the power of certain stories being told and held, regardless of the reality. Secondly, (and perhaps more importantly) the fact we are still seeking to assess people's engagement and understanding of the economy based on their intended consumption, in a midst of global converging crises, where "consuming" our way out of global warming and biodiversity loss isn't physically possible and in fact perpetuating the crisis. I wonder if it was replaced with a citizen confidence index (informing on engagement on policy and strategy in governments and organisations big and small - per Jon Alexander's suggestion), or removed entirely as a distraction would be more helpful? Cheers, Georgia
I couldn't agree with this comment more, thanks for pointing this out. Personally I loath being considered a 'consumer', makes me feel like a machine of planetary destruction.
I've recently read Jason Hickle's book 'Less is More' on Degrowth, it's brilliant and I'm seeing the status quo economy through a very different lens these days.
100%, Jason Hickel is exceptional. If you enjoyed that, I highly recommend reading Tim Jackson's Postgrowth (ecological economist and also brilliant BBC playwright, so also entertaining) and Jon Alexander's recent book Citizens (not consumers) which explores this from a marketing perspective.
Thanks for the recommendations! Adding them to my list. The way people have been framed as consumers instead of citizens increasingly in news media since the 1970s, is highly problematic.
To share a recommendation back to you, I've really been enjoying the Planet Critical podcast and substack by Rachael Donald. She interviews many incredible systems thinkers https://www.planetcritical.com/
I agree. Language is so important. I watched in disbelief as language change featured so highly as a tool in the palace coup conducted by neoliberals back in the 80s/90s. I worked in psychiatry bad / mental health good. Patients bad / clients consumers good. As professional staff i was consumed until I existed no more and some managers somewhere grew fatter.
We need to reclaim language. I for one feel sick at what I am supposed to consume. We are citizens not consumers.