It's that time of year... We are reminded during every commercial break with Santa and red ribbons. We are reminded when we flip through the radio dial and find stations that have gone to an all-Christmas Music format already (won't get sick of that in a couple weeks - no...). We are reminded every year on Black Friday, as once again we see video of people getting violent in an effort to save a few bucks.

We are a nation of consumers. Consumption is what drives our economy. Without spending, our economy dies (as it almost did in 2008/2009). We need the money to be moving because that is what creates jobs, and for the money to move, a product or service must be in turn exchanged.

Consuming, though, in the economic model is a lot like consuming in the digestive model: As we consume, we also excrete. Without consuming, we cannot survive.

The problem is that not unlike the general obesity problem we face in America, we have become a nation of fatties as it relates to consumer products. We want more, More, MORE. Last year's model is not good enough - trash it, and buy new. Human waste can be processed fairly easily. Consumer waste, however, is another beast altogether. If you have not seen the video "The Story of Stuff", you must watch it now:



Where this really becomes a problem is when people want to live beyond their means. They want it all, but they can't really afford it. Most of our consumer products used to be made in the U.S. It provided a decent job for a worker, who could live a simple comfortable life. Products were made to last, and - because of the cost - they were repaired when they broke. This also provided a job for a skilled worker to make repairs.

Over time, that model has disappeared. Now we want to replace it. If it breaks, it's an excuse to "upgrade".

How do we afford this? We've outsourced. A large number of our consumer products are now made overseas. It's actually cheaper to get it made on the other side of the planet and ship it than it is to make it here. At what cost? We saw recently with the fire at the factory in Bangladesh that killed more than 100 people. The description of the cause and carnage are eerily reminscent of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in 1911. That fire (as well as the book "The Jungle" and blood, sweat and tears from unions) led to stricter laws and safer working conditions. Now that 3 people have been arrested because of the fire in Bangladesh, perhaps that side of the world will see changes in factory rules. Perhaps that will create a situation where it is once again cost-effective to manufacture certain products here in the U.S.

Wal-Mart is one of those companies that is well-known for selling foreign-made goods ("Wal-Mart - your source for cheap plastic crap made in China"). It's been reported that nearly 70% of their products are made overseas. A large portion of the garments manufactured in that inferno in Bangladesh were destined for Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. Wal-Mart is not the only culprit as a check of the tags on any clothing you might buy elsewhere will attest, but they are one of the worst offenders. They offer the American dream to everyone: you CAN have it all at a price you can afford. Just don't look behind the curtain to see the nearly enslaved factory workers that look the same age as your teenage kids.

What makes this even worse is that Wal-Mart also treats its employees (at least the hourly store workers) with little more respect than it does its suppliers. While the people at the top are making billions, the average store worker is on food stamps. They may have the lowest prices, but as Americans, we are all subsidizing them via our taxes.

The other end of this consumer digestive system is the waste product. We are consuming natural resources, and pooping out garbage and greenhouse gasses. Sea levels are rising faster than expected. Species are threatened with extinction. We've finally figured out recycling cans, bottles, and paper, but what about electronics? They are complex products, comprised of rare earth metals, lead, and plastic. It's technically feasible to recycle parts of them, but certainly not cost-effective.

It's an unsustainable model. Something has to change. This season, we all need to make an effort to cut down on our consumption of products, especially those made overseas, and especially those that are replacing something that works just fine. That may be a hard pill for kids to swallow, but as adults do we really need Christmas presents? Isn't spending time with friends and family and enjoying some good food and drink enough?

We are all warned about resisting the temptation to overeat during the holidays. This should apply to us as consumers too. Time for a diet - your planet will thank you.