Does an abundance of cheap goods make our lives better?

As I unpacked a microwave today, I was reminded of an argument I heard a political pundit making.The conversation was about quality of life in America, and tariffs came up.

I need to interject and state that I am fully aware (and have witnessed first hand) the terrors of our opioid epidemic. Suicide rates have been rising. Jobs are already being automated away and the trend will continue as we see 30 million jobs taken over by machines in the next 10 years. I am overall optimistic, and believe these are birthing pains for an amazing new future.

So one commentator was stating these devastating facts, and the other was defending how times have never been better — which I wouldn’t completely disagree with, there are many reasons why I wouldn’t rather have been worn any other time. It was his evidence that threw me off: he said that an abundance of material goods available for cheap is proof life is good, and that tariffs on China would be passed on to the consumer, hurting the dynamic.

Back to what prompted me to think about this debate:

We do not have a microwave in our home, and negative desire for one. However, we’ve had several Airbnb guests mentioning lack of microwave, so we crashed the kitchen’s good vibe today with a counter top model. Unpacking the thing, little pieces of styrofoam fell off the blocks that secure the microwave in the box, littering the newly swept floor. I thought to myself how shitty, there are so many ways to pack this, but they went for the cheapest possible option, and their shortcuts just roll downhill. Then I wondered well, maybe this benefits the consumer because this means they can get a nuker for $60.

Except, I don’t see the benefit of this horrid device! Microwaves don’t add value to the aesthetic of your home, don’t improve the culinary or nutritional value of your food, and don’t boost the general enjoyment of your day to day. The only thing a microwave actually might make better is bad, cold coffee, which you shouldn’t drink anyway. There really isn’t much benefit beyond being fast & cheap. I would not consider either a virtue, particularly in regards to food.

And yet, entire industries have grown up around these commodities, as well as an entire category of disease largely thanks to our addiction to them. Fast food relies on our burning desire for the empty qualities of now, and for nothing. And this dependence goes beyond consumables, it includes the things that ultimately consume us — the limitless stream of plastic items we’re programmed to buy, buy, buy to signal status to others, compelling them to fill up on the junk, as well.

If you haven’t noticed yet, I’m not convinced an abundance of cheap goods improves our lives…