Naked City

Since the Sept. 11 tragedies, we've all been told that kicking our good ol' American consumption into overdrive is the best way to teach those wicked Osamas and Saddams (natch) who's boss. But the invisible hand, which lifted our free-market economy toward new stock market heights so faithfully during the Nineties, remains rheumatic.

Despite continuing job cuts, rising unemployment, and bankruptcies galore, the faithful plug away. Earlier this holiday season, an ad for a free seminar at the Airport Marriott called "Cash in on the Boom After the Bust!" appeared in the Statesman. The seminar, sponsored by Online InvestorToolbox Advantage, offered participants "the same tools used by guru investors who have an edge in the market."

Meanwhile, KTND-FM and KXAN-TV have launched "Keep Austin Moving," a campaign that encourages Austinites to "buy/sell something." According to KTND-FM Vice-President Daryl O'Neal, the intent is to raise community awareness of local retailers and their contributions, not money. "I kind of saw everyone flailing around, talking about the economy, saying, 'woe is me, woe is me,'" O'Neal said. "I thought, the only way we're going to get through this recession is to buy something." Businesses who participate receive a variety of incentives, from TV coverage on KXAN to discounted advertising packages on KTND. "Anyone can become involved, as long as the participant offers something in return."

Although its publicity goes heavy on the red, white, and blue, the campaign does not conflate consumerism with political activism, O'Neal asserts. "We're not supporting this as a patriotic duty." But if everyone stops spending, he adds, the terrorists have won.

"Naked City" is reminded of what CNN's Jeff Greenfield recently said on-air: "I am beginning to think some of us are using this idea to justify just about any kind of behavior at all. If I'm too upset to eat this extra slice of chocolate cake, if I refuse to relax and enjoy myself by watching the Victoria's Secret fashion show, why then, the terrorists have won."