What is the parable of democracy of goods?
The parable or story that we can afford products, such as Cream of Wheat, that connect us to the world of aristocracy is a fantasy and a delusion. The fantasy shows that we are so desperate for self-flattery and admiration from others that our capacity for self-delusion is infinite. The advertisers are complicit with us in our self-delusion. Those who market their meretricious wares on us must exploit our vanity, our need for flattery and admiration, our insecurity, and our appetite for More (see Laurence Shames page 86). The parable of democracy of goods is just one of several absurd claims made by advertisers. Part Two. Basic Claims of Advertisers 1. Buying their product gives us admittance into an exclusive club that will make people admire us. The iPod, for example, makes us a hipster. 2. Buying their product will afford us dramatic transformation that would otherwise be impossible. If you buy product X, it will “change your life.” Dairy Queen featured a new brownie sundae milkshak
