ABSTRACT
The basis of consumer culture is the mass production of consumer products. Behind the technical ability to mass produce consumer products is the assumption that an abundance of material possessions and human services is politically and socially desirable. In order to obtain abundance, all persons of employable age should perform full-time paid labor to earn wages, salaries, or entrepreneurial profits. Furthermore, the abundance that is possible by full-time paid labor should be shared on an equalized basis. In other words, the purpose of mass production is mass consumption, and mass production is only possible by a labor force composed of full-time paid laborers who earn enough money to purchase an adequate share of the products they produce. Full employment and consumer cultures are reciprocals.
