Politics, News & Issues >
International Politics (Other)
Get a Widget for this title
RSS FeedDo many foreigners see the US as a corrupt "Consumption Empire?"
Title endorsed in part by:
Results so far:
| Yes | 81% | 44 votes | Total: 54 votes | |
| No | 19% | 10 votes |
Yes
Write now
Print
Invite a writer™
Add to FavoritesA "Consumption Empire", that pretty much sums up the way the United States is perceived by much of the world today.
Now, whether that characterization is accurate or fair is a subject of heated debate in many quarters. But the fact remains we consume a disproportionate amount of the world's resources given the population of our country.
What is as equally disturbing as the notion that the United States is a gluttonous "Consumption Empire", is the growing perception among many that Americans as individuals are little more than "imperialist consumers" themselves.
Here in Costa Rica, with the recent explosion of American ex-pats looking to retire in some mythical "paradise", there is some less than subtle resentment emerging among native Costa Ricans over what they see as the "consumption" of their country walking hand in hand with an often arrogant brand of neo-colonialism.
For example, many Ticos, when they refer to the Pacific coast of the country often say, "Aye, It is Costa Rica no more, it is Nueva Calfornia."
One community, officially named Tamarindo, has grown so "Anglo-ized" in recent years the locals now call it "Tamagringo".
Increas ingly, such references are not expressed in the context of warm or fuzzy feelings, but rather in the context of annoyance and frustration over what many locals see as their being priced out of some of the most beautiful places in their own country.
In addition, even though most Americans who come here claim it is because of Costa Rica's reputation as an ecologically responsible and conversationist country, their actions, in terms of clear cutting large tracts of tropical land and forests to make way for mega-hotel and condo complexes, "world class" golf courses and marinas, and sundry other American style "amenities", have left many locals deeply skeptical as to just how genuine the American wash-a-shores' commitment is to Costa Rica's magnificent flora and fauna.
Throughout this beautiful country, just the size of West Virginia but with seven distinct eco-systems within its borders, unbridled and inadequately regulated real estate development, much of it American driven, is threatening the very natural assets that made Costa Rica so appealing in the first place.
It is, for me as an American who's lived here for extended periods of time for a decade, both a source of concern and embarrassment.
The concern comes from knowing once a tract of tropical forest is cut down to make way for a Southern California style subdivison, that very few Ticos can afford to live in, that tract of tropical forest, and many of the creatures that inhabitated it, are gone forever.
The embarrassment stems from knowing that much of this damage is being done by my fellow country men looking to score a quick buck marketing Costa Rica's natural beauty to affluent Americans, and then destroying that beauty by building the trophy homes, hotels, condominiums, and all that comes with them, that the affluent Americans believe are essential to their happiness and wellbeing.
So, back to the original question, with one addendum.
Is the United States a "Consumption Empire" and, as a result, are Americans then little more than "consuming imperialists"?
The jury seems to be in and, sadly, the verdict reads "Guilty as Charged", at least here among growing numbers of Costa Ricans.
.
Learn more about this author, Michael Cook.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
No
"Do many foreigners see the US as a corrupt 'Empire of Consumption?'" Yes, they do.
But, these same people from other nations also love the values and culture of the United States of America. I recently returned from teaching English in Argentina for seven months. I have studied Spanish in Barcelona for two months. I have studied marine ecology in Belize. I have a Belgian Step Mother, a Hungarian and an Italian Godmother, and a vast multi cultural clan of extended family and friends.
These same people who view the USA as an empire of over consumption, also love the values of our culture and country. After graduating from the University of California in Santa Cruz, and living there for four years, I readily agreed with most Argentines when they had negative comments about my (our) country. It did not take too long before I thought, and later verbalized to my Argentine friends, "Wait a second. You can't keep saying negative things about my country while you try to dress like us, listen to all of our music and watch all of our movies."
The point is that, yes, we obviously over consume in many ways. But, our culture is imitated in nearly every corner of the world. We still represent a beacon of hope for people who are not able to escape violent dictatorships. Therefore, the same Argentine or Hungarian who is angry at the over consumption of our country, may very well view our country as a place with more freedoms. I made great Argentine friends who agreed with me on the point that the USA over consumes, but at the same time, they would prefer to live in a place where they have more opportunity and freedom.
I suppose I mean to say that, yes, we consume way too much. But that over consumption has not injured what we represent as a country. If it had, then my Godmother would not want to escape Hungary to come to the USA in the eighties. If it had, then my Argentine friends would not dream of one day living in California.
In addition, where can one go to find a non corrupt government? Should I listen to an Argentine calling the USA corrupt? I did when I was still in, "Anti-USA Santa Cruz mode." But then I realized that they have no right to call my government corrupt (which it is) since their government has gone through periods of corruption as well. It was then that I started flipping the conversation upside down- "What about your country in the eighties?" "Tell me, are you more angry at the British for invading, or at your own government for sending in untrained troops that everyone knew would be killed?" I would say to them in Spanish. Anyone can make fun of the global empire, but they are usually expressing concerns about themselves.
Yes, foreigners see us as a corrupt empire that over consumes; but this sentiment seems to come along with another. A sentiment of longing, and of betrayal. They seem to call us corrupt while remembering the Americans from WWII. They seem to call us corrupt while they have relatives who have finally made it to our country and love it.
When breaking the argument down to, "Us and Them," it becomes apparent that the USA is the only country in the world where we live next to them. Argentines live next to other Argentines in Argentina, and Hungarians live next to other Hungarians in Hungary. If we are going to make any multicultural changes towards understanding and sharing common human goals, it is going to happen where their neighbors our ourselves- right here in the US of A.
Learn more about this author, Daniel Brodell-Lake.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Difference of opinion? Debate now.
- International Politics (Other)
- Should the US keep paying dues to the UN?
- Is Russia under Vladimir Putin a democracy?
- Should former Nazis still be persecuted if they have led good lives since WWII?
- Should a European leader continue to lead the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?
- Should the US continue to be the leader in world politics?
- Is a Single World Government the way forward?
