Daniel Akst Saving Yourself Summary
David Stevens
Kohnpecker
English 098
28 February 2000
Thrift Becoming Uncommon? Daniel Akst, in his essay “Saving Yourself”, discusses the need for thrift during the U.S. economic recession. According to Ackst economist Thorstein Veblen developed the theory of conspicuous consumption while economist Simon Patten promoted consumer spending and capitalism as tools of social change. Thrift declined following World War II and the Great Depression due to the promotion of spending as a way of strengthening the U.S. economy. Akst discusses how purchasing second-hand items may be necessary due to economic problems. Akst gives a very informative, descriptive, and detailed article about the spending habits of people. He gives the impression that he really researched this topic. I felt that Akst brings up several good points and is very persuasive. Akst seems to be targeting people whom he would classify as “spenders” persuading them to start being thrift again. Thrift is “using money and other resources carefully and wastefully.” according to the dictionary. He goes on to rant about how you can find fake thrift all over especially in newspaper home sections and shelter magazines. Rich people boasting about furnishing their multimillion-dollar homes with zany castoffs and …show more content…
Sure, building power plants to cut global greenhouse emissions can be expensive; many of the ways individuals can make a difference will put money in our pockets. For example, eating less red meat and driving fuel efficient cars are just a couple. It is the same concept for buying less things; making do with what you have and using secondhand items uses far less resources and reduces spending. Thrift is far from being the worst thing we could being nudged on us, considering to be thrifty is to save and not waste. Thrift keeps you out of debt and debt means staying in a pointless job, failing to support needy
Kohnpecker
English 098
28 February 2000
Thrift Becoming Uncommon? Daniel Akst, in his essay “Saving Yourself”, discusses the need for thrift during the U.S. economic recession. According to Ackst economist Thorstein Veblen developed the theory of conspicuous consumption while economist Simon Patten promoted consumer spending and capitalism as tools of social change. Thrift declined following World War II and the Great Depression due to the promotion of spending as a way of strengthening the U.S. economy. Akst discusses how purchasing second-hand items may be necessary due to economic problems. Akst gives a very informative, descriptive, and detailed article about the spending habits of people. He gives the impression that he really researched this topic. I felt that Akst brings up several good points and is very persuasive. Akst seems to be targeting people whom he would classify as “spenders” persuading them to start being thrift again. Thrift is “using money and other resources carefully and wastefully.” according to the dictionary. He goes on to rant about how you can find fake thrift all over especially in newspaper home sections and shelter magazines. Rich people boasting about furnishing their multimillion-dollar homes with zany castoffs and …show more content…
Sure, building power plants to cut global greenhouse emissions can be expensive; many of the ways individuals can make a difference will put money in our pockets. For example, eating less red meat and driving fuel efficient cars are just a couple. It is the same concept for buying less things; making do with what you have and using secondhand items uses far less resources and reduces spending. Thrift is far from being the worst thing we could being nudged on us, considering to be thrifty is to save and not waste. Thrift keeps you out of debt and debt means staying in a pointless job, failing to support needy