Turn on your TV even now and I guarantee you will see a car commercial. They are on all the time all day. This doesn't mean everyone is dropping what they are doing and buying cars though.

Cars cost a considerable amount. You couldn't just go out and buy a car any time you wanted. Also, car commercials are marketed toward adults. In general, however, we Americans consume A LOT. Way more than most countries and we mostly buy shit we don't need. I would argue that has a lot to do with advertising and a lot to do with having few controls on advertisers.

My point being the marketing is mostly there as a reminder rather than a brainwashing tool to send you subliminal messages to eat up johnny!

As someone with a degree in communications and marketing, this is completely false. "Brainwashing" may be a strong word, but advertisers are absolutely not just sending a reminder, this is a common misconception. They do spend money sending meta messages or "subliminal" messages. Marketing is a sophisticated tool these days, it's not passive or there for friendly reminders. It's driven toward and directed at the biggest spenders and the weakest links. And they lie. They call it "framing", but framing is just another word for lying. Much like spin. It is deliberate and pervasive and relentless.

This is natural, what's unnatural is to give them candy every day or ice cream everyday if they ask for it....same way it would be wrong to give them McDonald's.

Agree totally.

I am not saying it's as simple as this, I am just saying you too are responsible.

Also agree.

They are in the business to make money.

Except that in the U.S. they are considered human beings, money is free speech, etc. They have the same rights, but few of the same expectations. If someone is selling crack on the corner to children, we look at that person as a shitheel. It's still up to the parents to tell the kid not to do crack, but the crack dealer is still a shitheel. This goes back to the company having no responsibility. We treat the phrase "to make money" as it was brought down on stone tablets from Moses. We go on the assumption that anything's okay, if money. I disagree. I think they are in business to provide a service and/or product and have a responsibility to make sure the product is safe or properly and fairly labeled. I believe they have a responsibility to the community, their employees and the environment. They may be here to make money, but they are here for other things as well and it's those expectations that often aren't being met.

You enjoy it, they will continue to make it.

That's how simple supply and demand is supposed to work. But, we are not dealing in a free market based society here. Those days are gone.

It's not their job to say "i think you've had enough sir".

I'm not saying that. I'm saying the have a responsibility to not lie, hide the truth, make exaggerated claims, manipulate, coerce, frame things erroneously, or otherwise do anything it takes to turn a buck. Then, someone caves to pressure and we yell, "Loser! Take personal responsibility!" Well, indeed. I just want to hear people calling McDonald's losers, too, because they sell crap. But, we won't because money.

Banks for one are the worst.

Word.

Would like to add that I appreciate having this rationale discussion without hyperbole, name calling, etc. We agree on some points and disagree on some points, but I am grateful the discussion could take place.