The american consumer just finished a marathon in a sprint. Since my Grandfather and his fellow GI’s returned home from the Greatest War, material consumption in the U.S. has gained speed though 60 years and 4 generations of Americans. It was a good run. And it is with relief and a touch of nostalgic sadness to end the 50 year feast on the fruits of free market capitalism. Lets take a stroll down memory lane.

1950-1960: A Well-Oiled Baby Makin’ Machine

1960-1970: The factory at full speed

1970-1980: The Cracks begin to show

1980-1990: Members Only: the rise of FIRE

Not without a flair for the dramatic, we Americans capped off the binge with a grand finale. Since 2001 when George Bush called on the american people to serve their country by ’shopping more’ we have tapped every perceivable credit line and card that the dumb banks would loan us. What did we buy?

Shit for our pets
In 200? we have bought enough pet paraphernalia to sink a cargo freight coming from China.

 LCD/Plasma screens
One in every living room, bedroom, kids room, SUV headrest, Nintento DS, Macbook Pro, and expresso machine. I know I’ve miss some. Put them in the comments.

 
Expensive weddings foisted on us by bridal magazines
What a better way to kick of the toughest 2 years of an already trying social contract than with $30,000 of debt. So a bunch of monkeys you ‘kind of know’ can get drunk on your tab. I believe wedding can be special without breaking the bank.

Kitchens
Viking gas ranges that get about as much use as the palates machine in the garage. Come on you know you just going to drive through Wendy’s.
 

I do not exempt myself from this group. I am very much the gadget fan and

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