It's time to rethink our intention for healing and rebuilding the economy. Let's stop exhorting consumers to Get out there and buy, already.  It's wrongheaded think that consumers will jumpstart the economy by buying more things that are Wants, at the expense of things that are Needs. That's how we got into this mess in the first place.

Since WWII, the beset consumer has saved less and spent more of total take-home pay, such that, by 2008, our national savings rate was below 0!  Personal savings is an absolute priority: more important than establishing credit, way more important than discretionary purchases of more stuff. 

Our New Consumer Thinking should be about sufficiency and security: saving more, spending thoughtfully, and spending ALOT less on pre-landfill stuff that depreciates or obsolesces as soon as you get the wrapper off. 

Check out The Story of Stuff, for an enlightening look at our production and consumptions patterns.