Assertion: Is there a problem here?

Is There a Problem Here?
Larry Doyle, wrote this piece right after the 2008 elections had just taken place. The Fiscal Year had also ended and the Economic Stimulation and Recovery Act of 2009 was in progress. Doyle is using juxaposition in a sardonic manner to bring awareness to a problem and invoke change. He is blaming consumers and urging them to change the way they spend their money. I agree completely with his point. Although I am an avid shopper, I do agree that Americans have made some scary changes to our consumer market that must be changed. Christmas is just one example of many that illustrate this. It starts with Black Friday sales. Nearly everyone sets their alarms for 3 a.m. and speeds to Wal-Mart to get in line to get the markdown price on an X-Box for their son, meanwhile in their pajamas of course. I have experienced the horror, firsthand. I cannot understand and go back on my mental state last year, but my sister and I arose at 4 a.m. to get in line at Target for a present for me brother. To our dismay, there was one, lonely helicopter toy sitting on the shelf by itself, and as we walk up both excitedly, and tiredly, five full-grown women pounce on top of us to snatch it with their greedy hands. We didn’t need it that badly, actually, we didn’t need it at all. If this is what the holiday season has come to, then society has surely lost sight of what’s important. For this reason, consumers get crazy and all wound up about the costs and lowering prices of all the hottest toys and electronics. It’s pure greed. But, people are too concerned with the newest Apple Ipod that is coming out next, to be aware of the filthy and embarrassing people they have become. It’s quite a shame. It’s no wonder the economy has suffered.