David Korten Quotes

Capitalism in one century of growth has enormously increased its power, not only through expansion over the entire earth, but also through development into new forms

While the Cold War had us questioning our next-door neighbors, big brands emerged to capture our trust. We became consumers.

Since the end of the Cold War, metropolitan elites everywhere have identified progress and modernity with the cornucopia of global capitalism, the consolidation of liberal democratic regimes and the secular ethic of consumerism.

Somewhere along the way to free-market capitalism, the United States became the most wasteful society on the planet.

In general, the Western body has become a global brand.

Obviously we're a consumer nation and you have the power to influence these big corporations who are running the world right now through what you chose to, or not to, purchase.

In the US, most progressives start to see the differences between internationalism and economic globalization.

With the supermarket as our temple and the singing commercial as our litany, are we likely to fire the world with an irresistible vision of America's exalted purpose and inspiring way of life?

Despite the obvious damage now visible in the entropic desolation of every American home town, Wal-Mart managed to install itself in the pantheon of American Dream icons, along with apple pie, motherhood, and Coca Cola.

Publicity is the life of this culture - in so far as without publicity capitalism could not survive - and at the same time publicity is its dream.

The engine of ancient society was religion but the engine of contemporary society, as I see it, is advertising.

I used to think that capitalism was human nature. Now I know that it is culture.

The production of goods had become an end in itself and the consumption of goods only the means to further production.

Western fundamentalism: By this term I mean the elevation of Western modernity above all other ways of knowing and being and it includes adherence to capitalism, individualism, patriarchy, scientific rationalism, ‘Christian’ morality, commodification of the environment, private property and a belief in progress.

A market economy is a tool—a valuable and effective tool—for organizing productive activity. A market society is a way of life in which market values sweep into every aspect of human endeavor. It is a place where social relations are made over in the image of the market.

Modern capitalism has no purpose except to keep the show going.

Neoliberalism is hard to define. It could refer to intensified resource extraction, financialization, austerity, or something more ephemeral - a way of life - in which collective ideals of citizenship give way to marketized individualism and consumerism.

We're always serving something, even if we're not aware of it. We're usually serving capitalism.

There is massive propaganda for everyone to consume. Consumption is good for profits and consumption is good for the political establishment.

Right now, the machine keeps us totally busy. If you don't react against it, you'll end up letting yourself go and become the perfect consumer. That's what they want.

In hip-hop, as in neoliberalism, economics bullied politics out of the picture.

Capitalism might everywhere be spreading havoc, but it is also triumphant everywhere.

The world is moving in a completely fascist, corporate direction. It worries me, it should worry us all.

America is really happy to be sold something.

For me, I love and hate Costco. I think it's ruined America and made America great.