Environmentalists attacked utility advertising as a manufactured demand driving unwarranted expansion.

Evidence

Almost all environmentalists would like to see some shackles upon the largely unregulated promotional advertising common to the electric utilities; they argue that the utilities incessantly, persuasively promote their product, create high demand for their services, and then use the demand as a justification for their continuing expansion to meet “consumer needs.” Why not, suggest these critics, end the advertising for “all-electric living,” with all the glamorous embellishments, that the industry has so long relied upon to escalate its sales. Finally, proposals have been made that governmental bodies set limits on the permissible power consumption in American homes. — Adam Rome, The Bulldozer in the Countryside, 361

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Advertising manipulates consumers into wanting what they are made to want. — Tim Wu, The Attention Merchants, 258

Broader Connections

• Advertising manipulates consumers into wanting what they are made to want. #corroborates (0.85) — Tim Wu, The Attention Merchants, 258