This is one of the fascinating things (in my mind) in economics. Not everyone can contribute directly to the production of our most basic needs; those who don't must convince the productive members that they have a good worth spending money on. It might actually be worthless, but what else will those productive people do with their excess cash? Once they have met their basic needs, boredom sets in. So they buy garbage to pass the time.
That's a simplification, sure, but there's truth to it. I think the populace is comfortable with this model because they prefer to have people do pointless work for their money rather than just get a handout.
> Not everyone can contribute directly to the production of our most basic needs; those who don't must convince the productive members that they have a good worth spending money on.
I think it's actually much worth because it's the other way around. Productive members usually have to convince unproductive to spend money.
That's a simplification, sure, but there's truth to it. I think the populace is comfortable with this model because they prefer to have people do pointless work for their money rather than just get a handout.