Is consumerism good for America?

That is the question that was put forth last Thursday at the Teleconference Center.

Janice Connal, transfer counselor/interdisciplinary instructor, had seven men who were for consumerism and seven women who were against consumerism hold a debate on the subject. There were 35 audience members present.

According to Connal, each side had a 15-minute opening argument as to why the group held its position on the issue, followed by a 10-minute break, and then a 10-minute rebuttal.

Alex Cho, business major, pointed out that he believed that consumerism was good for America because it was like the Big Mac strategy.

“The United States charges a high price for its McDonald’s product,” he commented, “and that in turn is what creates more jobs around the world.”

With consumerism in place in the U.S. there will be more money and the economy will grow, Cho added.

However, the women disagreed with what Cho said.

Vanessa Villgeas, pre-med major, said, “After hearing what our opponents had to say, consumerism is wrong for the fact that the U.S. is being outsourced by other countries.”

She added that China and India are the countries that most of the outsourcing goes to because it is well known that both countries charge less for cheap labor.

Samantha Eradshaw, psychology major, reaffirmed why consumerism is bad for America, saying, “Corporations don’t create a democracy, do they?”

She answered, “No!”

In the end, it was up to the audience themselves to decide who had the better argument.

Kaimlei Anaya, undecided major, said, “I believe that consumerism is a bad idea because after reading the facts and deals I stand by my position.”

Anaya added that at first she was for consumerism, but now, she hopes “others will know the facts like our group did.”

However, Cho stood by his belief that consumerism was a good idea.

“People buy the same products when they need it,” he explained, “and people still do it because of the economy growth.”

Those on the other side of the issue didn’t know what they were talking about, Cho added.