Consumerism.

One of the many things i include in my curriculum is the various ways consumerism can impact critical thinking. Many people blame the educational system for the growth of apathy and lack of free thinking, but do not question the systems of subliminal and manipulative advertising that hit a human being at the point of their self awareness. Gender Identification, Class Hierarchy, and general consumer habits are bolstered by media inundation at childhood, and continue through adulthood. Any attempt to question this system and teach ways to break out of it, is labeled as unAmerican brain washing.
Although I often disagree with the message and methods used by Penn and Teller on their show Bullshit, their expose on bottled water demonstrates corporations ability to manipulate the free market, and teaches the viewer to be more critical of the everyday messages they see. If more people thought like this, perhaps I wouldn't need to consistently debunk intelligent design and that 'Natural cures they don't want you to know guy.' Anyway here's a fun but short clip for you.


See.critical.thinking.is.fun.and.empowering.