Letter to President Obama

Dear Mr. President,

For many years I have been told that I live in the greatest country in the world, and I enjoy personal rights in a true democracy. I have also heard that anyone in this country can pull themselves up by their bootstraps and be successful. Our competitive economy combined with democracy allows anyone to do this. What I have been told, is far from the true situation The United States faces. I believe in the American dream and the same ideals as you, however; there is so much degradation of society and the environment it is difficult to stay firm in these beliefs.

It is hard to believe in American democracy when society closely resembles one controlled by the corporation. Yes capitalism is great, it allows people and businesses to pursue greatness without harsh social restrictions. In a corporate state however, one can argue that there are more and harsher restrictions than a communist one. These might be more subtle but they are definitely there. For example, subliminal messages in advertising, changing human behavior to fit consumption, and keeping options limited to a few big corporations. I think The United States is beginning to resemble a corporate state more than a democratic one.

After reading "Culture Jam" by Kalle Lasn I have solidified my opinion and growing concerns more than ever. Lasn has many ideas to revolutionize American media and take power from the corporations and give it back to the American people. Lasn, founder of Adbusters magazine calls forth a generation of "culture jammers" to make American life more authentic. From changing one’s perception of beauty to creating an obsession with branding and icons, corporations are involved in people’s lives too much. Marketing and advertising is rampant whether it is in sports, television, food, fashion, or music. It is interesting to consider the impact corporations play in culture. There is an obesity epidemic in The United States right now and the fast food takeover by large chains is a major cause.

One section of Lasn’s book stands out as being particularly important because it explains the nature of The United States’ economic system. It is a fairly simple system growth depends on increasing one thing, gross domestic product. The problem is that life is not this simple, and GDP does not factor in any externalities, environmental degradation, or social injustice. There is something wrong when a war or an oil spill is considered good for the economy. This growth and consumption needs to be regulated, between the signs of excess pollution and waste this is clearly an unsustainable path. Corporations cannot be given free reign to grow and continue to pollute the earth as well as people’s minds with advertising. There is a branch of economics that considers the environment and uses a better indicator, this should be incorporated in the country’s policy.

I am writing as a concerned citizen for the public’s livelihood and steward to the environment. This letter is not about deforestation and poverty, or Nike and McDonalds. It is about those things but it is important to consider the big societal picture. There is only so much time before American culture withers to microwave meals and corporate-branded schools. Trying to solve the issue of media literacy ad the environment is a hard political battle but something needs to be done about the corporations running the country.

Sincerely,

Paul Smith