Made to Break ...

　
In Made to Break, Giles Slade illuminates the dizzying shift America has made to a throw-away society. The author tells us that, “Not only did we invent disposable products, ranging from diapers to cameras to contact lenses, but we invented the very concept of disposability itself, as a necessary precursor to our rejection of tradition and our promotion of progress and change” (Slade 4) Made to Break is a history of twentieth-century technology in terms of obsolescence. Americans love new stuff… it’s that simple. We like cool phones, cars, clothes… any cool stuff. The problem, Slade tells us is that the old (or not so old) stuff is piling up. However, it’s really not the consumers fault. Planned obsolescence is defined as an “assortment of techniques used to artificially limit the durability of a manufactured good in order to stimulate repetitive consumption” (Slade 5).


Dating back to the auto industry manufacturers realized that consumers would trade up for style. Henry Ford made his Model T automobile to last many years after purchasing it. General Motors later discovered that car buyers would make choices on fashion as well… This revelation changed the way American business was done. Companies profit more when products have shorter shelf lives - because they sell more products that way. This is no conspiracy theory but, rather, simple economics. Henry Ford’s vision of a classless American transportation device would become a “social stratifier” (Slade 41)


As we move forward into a new millennium, the author asks readers a disturbing question about the future of a society based on consumption. The author calls it “product addiction” (Slade 51) Addicts base how they feel on external stimuli, and Americans judge themselves by the newest or nicest car, phone, computer or bestseller. And, manufacturers understand this, they supply the “drug” to provide the temporary “high.” The problem... where to put the not so old stuff...


Personally, I have faith in the “process.” I believe Americans in the future will come up with a way to recycle the “old stuff.” As I have stated in earlier posts predictions of our societies demise always arise, and we overcome, because the human mind is an unlimited resource. Usually some self-appointed intellectuals blow some “hot air” when the economy is in a downtown. Slade reminds us, “Most of the utopian plans-technocratic or otherwise- that emerged during that troubled year of 1932 spoke of the need for a body of experts who would restructure society so as to achieve a balance between supply and demand“ (Slade 71). These “experts” are always, always, always intellectuals from some college campus. Then, things get better, and they go back to teaching their unproven theory to 20 year olds.


Pain is a great motivator, and we overcome and innovate… History has proven that and there is no reason to think any differently now…