Also, regarding Nike, Nike's prices are part of why people buy Nike. They also sink millions into product R&D (and advertising), but even aside from that, casual consumers buy Nike because the brand cachet, not because they shoes cost $100 to manufacture. Nike could very feasibly see a substantial LOSS in market share if it dropped its prices to, say 20% of its current prices.

People buy Nike because Nike positions itself as a pseudo-luxury trendy brand. People, at least Americans, buy IKEA because it's aesthetically well-designed and cheap. Two different ideas.

IKEA has simply dominated a low-end niche that happens to have a huge market: they've generated a lot of supply for what has proven to be massive demand.

Farmers in medieval times built furniture out of solid materials that lasted partly because fiberboard and massive economies of scale did not exist back then. As such, it's naive to think that the psychology of consumerism was invented by modern advertising simply because conditions in the past did not allow for the expression of such consumerism. Advertising naturally helps it along, but so does the ability to buy a wide variety of goods at a price point which makes rapid obsolescence economically feasible.

Thus, the question becomes: are consumers simply laying down and tolerating consumerism, or have their own mentalities caused the rise of consumerism-friendly manufacturing?

My beef is with the manufactures of mass-produced furniture, who could dramatically increase their quality by reducing their profit margin. We've all heard enough stories about Nike shoes being made in the Far East for $3.00 and being sold to Americans for $125. Same idea.

And by the way, a lot of people seem to be making assumptions about who I am and where I come from. I grew up among the "lower classes" I spoke of and am not ashamed of it. Even now, I'm middle class at best. I guess prejudice is alive and well.

Moreover, you look down your nose at poor slobs who just need a wardrobe or end tables or a desk, and do the best they can within their budget. In your world, Joe Slob is sitting on the floor propping his plate of food on his knees until he can, someday, with your blessing, buy a lovely real wood handcrafted dining table.

Most of us don't want to be Joe living without furnishings, and rather resent your nasty language about 'lower classes' when directed to people who must choose between living with something less than excellent, or living with nothing.