--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Feckless as it was for Bush to ask…" description: "\"Feckless as it was for Bush to ask Americans to go shopping after 9/11, we all too enthusiastically followed his lead, whether we were wealthy, working..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/frank-rich-14674_after_feckless-as-it-was-for-bush-to-ask-ameri_613785.png" --- # Feckless as it was for Bush to ask Americans to go… ![“Feckless as it was for Bush to ask Americans to go shopping after 9/11, we all too enthusiastically followed his lead, whether we were wealthy, working-class or in between. We spent a decade feasting on easy money, don't-pay-as-you-go consumerism and a metastasizing celebrity culture.” quote by Frank Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/frank-rich-14674_after_feckless-as-it-was-for-bush-to-ask-ameri_613785.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/frank-rich-14674_after_feckless-as-it-was-for-bush-to-ask-ameri_613785.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/frank-rich-14674_after_feckless-as-it-was-for-bush-to-ask-ameri_613785.png) > “Feckless as it was for Bush to ask Americans to go shopping after 9/11, we all too enthusiastically followed his lead, whether we were wealthy, working-class or in between. We spent a decade feasting on easy money, don't-pay-as-you-go consumerism and a metastasizing celebrity culture.” [Frank Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-rich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote criticizes the post‑9/11 consumer boom driven by political rhetoric, leading to superficial wealth and celebrity obsession. **In simple terms:** People chased easy money and fame after 9/11, ignoring deeper values. Key Takeaway Beware of hype that fuels unsustainable consumption. Themes consumerism politics culture materialism celebrity Mood critical reflective Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - post‑9/11 economy - political campaigns - advertising - personal finance - media criticism Key Concepts neoliberalism media influence social conformity Questions to Reflect On - How does political messaging shape spending habits? - What alternatives to consumer culture exist? A Different Perspective It overlooks those who suffered or resisted the consumer push. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Celebrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celebrity/) [Celebrity culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celebrity-culture/) [Consumerism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumerism/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Easy money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy-money/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Shopping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shopping/) [Working class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-class/) ## Related quotes > [If you ask Americans whether they've been successful at sealing the border with Mexico, they'll tell you that it's a very difficult proposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/if-you-ask-americans-whether-they-ve-been-successful-at-sealing-the/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [Everybody should have health care, on the one hand. 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