How I became a capitalist instead of a worker

The purpose of work is to create consumers, so I opted out.

“I work hard so I can buy anything without looking at the price tag,” says a 20-something smug TikToker on my feed.

I cringe, because she’s right. But she’s also wrong.

Wrong, because that’s the most ridiculous reason for working I’ve ever heard.

Right, because that’s exactly why most of us work.

We work so we can consume. And then we consume so we can work some more.

// Before I dive in, I want to clarify something. When I talk about "work," I’m referring to your typical office job in the private sector—the kind where you shuffle emails, attend meetings that could have been an email, and make spreadsheets no one reads. If you’re a firefighter, doctor, or some other real-life superhero, you can exit this page now. //

For the rest of us, who pretend our work has meaning, let’s chat.