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| ALSA-Kontraktwal Cebu |
Consumerism is the idea that increasing the consumption of goods and services purchased in the market is always a desirable goal and that a person's wellbeing and happiness depend fundamentally on obtaining consumer goods and material possessions. In an economic sense, it is related to the predominantly Keynesian idea that consumer spending is the key driver of the economy and that encouraging consumers to spend is a major policy goal. From this point of view, consumerism is a positive phenomenon that fuels economic growth.
In short, capitalism isn't always consumerism. Capitalism can only be bad when moral values such as healthy competition, respect for life, and government regulation are absent. That's when it becomes commercialism and consumerism. Government exists for a reason to keep society in order. The government may not directly provide jobs but they should encourage policies for job creation. A good example is how the government should remove excessive restrictions on foreign investments. On the other hand, the government should put policies that put all investors in check with business laws. Laws such as like fair competition act, intellectual property rights, and responsible labor laws keep companies in check. There are rules that keep capitalism in check. Companies need to take responsibility such as firing erring employees, suspending operations if need be, or the like.
The irony is that while anti-capitalist labor groups claim to fight for the workers--they tend to go against foreign investment laws. A good example is how members of Bayan Muna and IBON Foundation oppose foreign investments. I must laugh at how IBON Foundation even calls it a fetish that led me to write about a destructive obsession with cash handouts. If they do care about workers then why are they calling foreign investments the "new kind of imperialism". How do they even plan to propose work for unemployed Filipinos if they reject extra sources of employment? Foreign investments have been known to create jobs, bring capital, and teach new skills. Local businesses like Jollibee, Yellow Cab, and Bo's Coffee Club are born also because foreign investment taught something new. Jollibee is now a worldwide brand. I think Bo's Coffee Club may become a worldwide brand after decades of success. The late Lee Kuan Yew even emphasized China bought its own planes before learning to make its own planes.
I can't be sure exactly what happened. I feel like what happened at URC Mandaue might be a case of management being more arrogant than the boss. I've met some people who are arrogant in contrast or in comparison to their employers. I was reminded of one angry lady who was more proud than her boss. I think cases like uncooperative cases can happen when some managers are hiding something from their higher-ups or are just plain arrogant. I'm making speculations and I don't claim to have the answers. URC has been a company with a decades-long good reputation. Why it happened I can't be sure. Though I'd recommend avoiding joining these anti-capitalist leftist groups in their protest.
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