Innovations and their aftermaths

People surprise me a lot. I learn new things from everyone around me, every time. But, the new levels of consumerism which traps people in and the way they succumb to it is something I can’t even comprehend. 

We are living in a world of products. And these products are from brands. And if you ask someone what’s a brand, no one can give a right answer. Sometimes, a product itself is the brand. Sometimes, it’s a person and sometimes it’s an idea and sometimes it’s just a fad. Everyone wants to associate with some brands, for no reason but for just the sake of associating with the same. The story of brands started with innovations. 

Innovation is an overused and abused word. The new world always meant innovation means products, which, sometimes one doesn’t even need and that sell in large numbers as everyone needs a share of the pie. The biggest driver of capitalist economy also was based on these innovations where the one who innovated and made money out of it controlled the ones who couldn’t. The supposed-to-be world’s best companies based on the brand equity (whatever that means) or the market value are the ones who produce stuff which are borne out of this ‘human ingenuity’. 

The other –isms suffered because everyone in this world wanted a piece and to be part of innovation driven capitalism. But there is a dark side to this story. The people who were engaged in appreciating these innovations resulting in new products were never concerned about how they were getting produced. Mass production is lovely word for the producers. But how’s it done? There you’ll see stories like this one. But, somehow and surprisingly, it doesn’t affect anyone. There’s no hue and cry on the same. But when the company’s owner dies, it’s as if a catastrophe has happened. Let’s go a bit deeper.

If these innovations didn’t result in blockbuster products, you would be answerable to your shareholders. If these blockbuster products are not made in bulk, after the emotionally moving marketing gimmicks, you can’t sell accordingly to the demand. And to make this bulk production possible, factory workers have to over work at cheap labour and with no overtime dues, so that the cost at which these products are being made will be just pittance compared to the final selling price of the product. If such low cost production had not been possible, these ‘blockbuster’ companies based on ‘impressive’ sales wouldn’t have made any person ‘iconic’. So, what makes these ‘iconic’ people ‘visionaries’? Does those Asian and African blood and sweat count in? But, yeah, that’s the world order.

Consumerism, as a natural progression of capitalist economy, has ensured that any shit can be sold in this world, with takers. If there are no takers, create them. America is a land where workers’ rights were seriously taken in to account. Even the history of May Day as worker’s day has significant contribution from the country. And, it’s an irony that the companies from same America are driving inhuman conditions for workers worldwide, in the name of outsourcing and low cost production. But, in case if these low cost production workers fight for their right and shut down at the same time, which may sound least probable but possible, the sales numbers will go down the drain, blockbuster companies will go bust and the innovations will look stupid and no comments on the icons and visionaries.

To end abruptly, I stop with a thought. When we become “proud owner of product x”, who is more important here? I still don’t get it when someone says that.