Consumerism and the Environment

George Will (“What Relief! Shopping Is Politically OK,” Column Right, April 29) states that moralists have given five different reasons for disapproving of high levels of consumption. However, one of the reasons is misstated and the most powerful reason of all is left out. The misstatement comes from attributing to the Puritans the idea that consumption is a distraction from spirituality. In fact, all major religions hold this view.

The most powerful reason relates to the fact that our life support system cannot support continuing increases in consumption on a per capita basis, especially with the rapid increase in population. It is not liberals “addicted to the pleasures of condescension” who are concerned, but those who can see far enough ahead to ascertain the nasty future that will be ours unless we learn to say “enough.”

Finally, Will says that stressing the power of advertising “portrays Americans as manipulable dolts.” Not true. Study after study shows that no matter how “non-manipulable” one is, the thousands of advertising messages we receive over the years do affect us and influence us to think that the purchase of goods will bring us happiness. This is the “moral mistake,” and not the warning against the dangers of rampant consumerism.

JOSEPH C. KRESSE JR.

Santa Monica