Consumers vs. Citizens

I am currently out of Maine and am traveling for family reasons, however I had down time and wanted to contribute a bit to the discussion about the recent chapters.

After finishing chapters 24 and 25 about "comprehensive community building at a crossroads and civil society", I take away the lesson that society, culture, and communities are not in a vacuum. There are always events that bring context to a community such as economic, political, and social trends that affect the environment that our work as social workers will be completed in. 

The suggestions in the chapter by author Tracy Soska and Robert Feikema are: integrating community development and human service strategies, forging partnerships through collaboration, building on community strengths, starting from local conditions and recognizing that community building is not cookie-cutter approach and that our efforts must be fluid and willing to adapt to whatever community were working in.

I also understand that it's important that the community has the most say in any new programs and policies that will shape and affect their community the most. It is also crucial to understand racial inequality in a community and have a civic dialogue about the way race affects the distribution of resources and opportunities in the community. Having these difficult conversations allows us to value cultural strengths and traditions between varying groups of people and also allows us to support families which encourages them to help themselves. 

Because society isn't in a vacuum and it is impacted by economic, political, and social trends it is important to consider how society has changed over the last few decades. Community life has changed significantly even within the last 10 years and we have gone from being citizens to being primarily consumers  in this commoditized society. In order to obtain all of the goods and material items that we seek to have in order to feel fulfilled leaves Americans being overworked, and having extreme amounts of debt. It also leaves great economic inequalities. Our communities have gotten smaller because of how we choose to focus our time consuming and the way that we use our time through the material goods we have such as video games or computers.

When you think about it, consumerism is an excellent form of social control. The quote in the book from Thomas Homer – Dixon says that "consumerism helps anesthetize us against the dread produced by empty lives… We substitute the trends the transitory pleasures provided by newly bought things." Because we have lost our sense of community we seek to find it in other ways leaving us almost "community illiterate". Our isolation leaves us weak and easily manipulated by higher powers and the shift that has come in this change from citizen to consumer has led to an increase in mental health problems, addictions, child-abuse, hunger, obesity, incarceration, homelessness, poverty,  and equality. 

Our isolation as consumers rather then citizens means that we will continue to support the current system as long as we believe it to be beneficial to us and our best interests. In, chapter 25 author Margaret Brodkin makes a point to mention that even child advocates come across opponents. Now one would think that "why would anyone oppose a better environment for children?" The truth is is that there are many people that could oppose it. Brodkin states that it is "A mistake to think that everybody loves kids and will ultimately prioritize their needs. Opposition is inevitable when trying to change the system." 

To me, that quotes, ties into being consumers rather than citizens because as consumers we are looking for the best deal… As citizens may be looking for the greater good for everyone. "The weak ties of social media do not furnish the strong fiber required to weave a community of memory and commitment where people are fully present to one another and engaged in a consensual common enterprise." 

I'm not quite sure how we can make the cultural shift from being consumers to being citizens again. I believe that social workers are often quick to jump to "education, education, education!" However, education can only do so much. People will not change if they do not wish too or do not the incentive to change.  Perhaps having more community-based organizations that focus on "citizzen literacy" would lead to a more open community.