Leaders of Society

Blog #8

9-25-14

Maria Kozdroy

Leaders of Society

Economic innovation is just as important to a society as is technological innovation.  Democracy and capitalism drive society’s economy with new technologies; however, not always in a particularly efficient way.  Private companies need to find ways to accommodate consumers’ needs and wants.  In chapter 7, Woodhouse explains several appliances he has at home that require repairs every few months, which seems to him to be taking away the company’s profit.  He states, “These problems with my upper-middle class stuff are puny compared with the problems facing those who do not have jobs, or who do not have the basics needed for a decent life.” What exactly is considered a “decent life?”  Perhaps, is a “decent life” one of being a leader or follower?  In this paper, I am going to argue that Woodhouse demeans the true meaning of the public.  Economy is directly related to buyers and consumers, and without both, society would not exist. 

When the term “the public” is used, it tends to be a generalization to refer to a group of people.  This connotation undermines the true significance “the public” has on a society in doing well economically.  In the course of this paper, the term “the public” will be used as a way to express consumers and their role to society.  One way in which the public has helped the economy grow is by democratic wholesaling, which is an intermediate of relying a message from a large company to a store.  If democratic wholesaling is properly demonstrated, it can change society culturally, environmentally, and economically.  Woodhouse uses the term “decent life,” which varies from person to person.  I believe that to have a decent life, one must be willing to accept challenges that society brings in order to survive with many occurring changes. 

Big companies indeed lead production of innovation and sales, yet the public is what makes these sales possible.  Woodhouse also mentions how “consumers’ tastes are shaped by what they see others wearing, by advertising, by price, by what they find on store shelves, and by other contingencies.”  I do not entirely agree with Woodhouse on this.  He makes all consumers sound as if each one is a follower of what they see others doing.  However, I believe that consumers are leaders, too.  Without leaders, society would fail, especially in terms of economy. 

Leaders keep society functioning.  The reason why unemployed individuals are said not to have a decent life may be because they cannot be a consumer, thus a benefit to an economy.  The only reason an economy can strive is by the individuals and companies, or leaders.  Additionally, CEOs are individuals of big companies as well are teachers, for example.  Teachers purchase clothes for themselves and much more, and in my eyes are needed just as much as CEOs are needed in society today.