Consumerism as a result of the Corona crisis

I have seen a meme going around a few times (in English, German, and Spanish) about what the new normal will be, how the old normal is based on greed an consumerism. We have had 6-8 weeks of minimised spending (which really isn't that long) and there is hope that we come out of this crisis with a new normal, a new type of economy.

I entirely agree with this sentiment. But who is responsbile for establishing this new economy and this new normal? The government (local, state, national, supranational)? Businesses, large corporations and small to medium enterprises?

No. We are. You and me. We have the opportunity to change our world to a less consumeristic economy. The power is in the hands of each of us, the consumers.

Hungry for a burger? Why do you have to wait in a miles long line for hours to be served at the McDonalds drive-thru? Why not make a burger yourself. Instead of taking yours kids to soccer practice, basketball practice, and baseball practice all in one day and then going to McDonalds, why not go to just one sporting practice and teach your kids how to make a burger from scratch?

You've been staring at the same four walls for the past 6-8 weeks. Do you really need to go to Ikea and stand in line for hours? Couldn't you just take a walk to the hardware store and buy a can of paint? Or better let, just get used to it!

Do you really need a new car every few years? Do you really need a car at all? Is it possible to get by with public transportation (wearing a mask, of course!) or even a bicycle and walking? Sure, it might take longer, but if you want a less consumerist economy, you can afford to take the time.

Do you really need the latest and greatest smartphone every year? Even every two years? Do you need a smartphone at all?

Do you need to take out credit? Why? Do you really need that thing you are going to buy with the credit?

We are all affected by the stay-at-home orders. We have all consumed less. Is it so uncomfortable? Do we need to jump back and start keeping up with the Joneses already?

One theme that has become evident with the rise of populism in rich countries is the wonderful and glorious past. If we could just go back to those days, everything would be better. Well, to quote a song, those days are past now and in the past they shall remain. Why look to the past, with 24 hour shopping, autopayments for services, blindly buying new things (other than food) every week or so? Why not use the present with reduced mobility and reduced spending and build a less greedy, less consumerist future? And I don't mean some utopian future hundreds of years in the future. I mean next month!

I am a consumer. I have often been unemployed and yet two years ago I bought a new car. Even now, I browse Amazon and have to stop and think "Do I really need that? Will I use it at all after the first month of getting it? Is it really going to make my life that much better or is it just going to increase my credit card debt?"

My point is this. We can all wish for a new normal that is simple, based less on consumerism on our side and less on greed from the supply side. Wishing won't make it happen. The meme offers a feel-good factor. But actually making that new normal requires a certain mindfullness on your part by turning off auto-pilot; it requires action on your part, or rather a lack of action, to not consume so much. If you really want that future, it's up to you personally to do something about it other than posting memes.