HOME  |  NEWS  |  SPORTS  |  BUSINESS  |  OPINION  |  ENTERTAINMENT  |  LIFE  |  JOBS  |  CARS  |  REAL ESTATE
MARKETPLACE
Jobs
Shopping
Cars
Real Estate
Classifieds
SERVICES
Photo Reprints
Subscribe
RSS Feeds
MEMORIES
Obituaries
News
Top StoriesEditorialCounty PressGarnet Valley PressHaverford PressHometown PressMedia PressSpringfield PressLocal SportsTax FactorNewsWeather
Photo Galleries
Pennsylvania Lottery
Our Newspaper
Classifieds
Place Classified Ad
Subscriptions
Business Directory
Personal Finance
Lifestyles
Fun and Games
NASCAR Game
Home : News : News : Editorial
Editorial
Perpetual State Of Agitation
By Joe O'Loughlin
02/21/2006
email this storyEmail to a friendpost a commentPost a Commentprinter friendlyPrinter-friendly
How often do you hear a Public Service Announcement (PSA) on TV or radio? You hear warnings about the dangers of smoking, drinking, improper diet, lack of exercise as well as taking proactive measures of regularly scheduled screenings for early detection of diseases, etc.



These are all fine and worthy endeavors.
However, I thought it would be interesting (and ironic) if they might make a PSA about the problem of PSA. I don't know if you have noticed it but it seems as if we are kept in a Perpetual State of Agitation in this country. You are never allowed to feel satisfied or content. There is always one more 'must buy' product on the market that you "can't live without" or some season you better start gearing up for now (usually several months before the actual event and normally the day immediately following the last big holiday).
It seems as if you can never catch up if you follow the commercial hype. There seems to be a mythical class of people out there whose sleek, fit bodies are adorned with up-to-date fashions that they wear to perfectly-catered parties where they bring neatly wrapped gifts.
Even though you know these are Madison Avenue fantasies there is still a part of you that yearns to somehow keep pace with this great American Dream. Maybe if you worked a little harder or investigated something online a bit more you'd book that wonderful family vacation at a fraction of the cost.
Capitalism is a wonderful process that has brought great innovations and advancements to our society. However, the downside of capitalism is that in order to fuel the economic engine it is important to things keep churning along. More and more products have to be purchased in order for companies to make profits. Consumers must keep consuming. However, if people feel satisfied about their situations they might not buy as much. Profits might not be as big, hence, the reason for the Perpetual State of Agitation.
Yet, when do you finally cross the line between being a consumer who is well fed to one who is fed up?
There comes a point when you realize that many things you do are in response to the insecurities that the PSA machine preys upon so effectively. You rush to get the latest style because you want to look your best. Not a bad thing, if kept under control, but maybe that expensive outfit you purchased is nothing more than an attempt to look better than others.
The PSA machine probes the frailty of your vanity. When you buy the perfect gift is it because you truly care for the other person and want to give them something special or you want to make sure your gift to them is better than their gift to you?
In this world you will always feel insecure. Things will always be changing and moving ahead. It will always be hard to figure out what THE right career move is or THE right neighborhood to live in or THE right investment to make. The only constant in this life is change.
The public service announcement that should be made about the Perpetual State of Agitation would be the following: Continuously seeking security in this uncertain world only leads to the danger of even more insecurity.
By constantly trying to do the latest fad diets or purchasing the latest technological gadgets or being seen at the right parties will not only drive yourself deeper and deeper into debt but also drive you further and further away from the one source of security -- God.


©CountyPressOnline.com 2009


email this storyEmail to a friendpost a commentPost a Commentprinter friendlyPrinter-friendlyTop
CONTACT US  •  OUR PUBLICATIONS  •  PRIVACY POLICY
© 2007 Journal Register Company. All Rights Reserved.