"By continually pushing the message that we have the right to gratification now, consumerism at its most expansive encouraged a demand for fulfillment that could not so easily be contained by products"

In this quote, Ellen Willis is going over the unfavorable results of consumerism on society. She argues that the continuous messaging that we should have instant satisfaction has led to a culture of excessive intake. This has actually developed a demand for satisfaction that can not be satisfied by just purchasing items. Instead, people are continuously looking for increasingly more material possessions in an attempt to find happiness and complete satisfaction. This insatiable desire for satisfaction has become a driving force in consumerism, leading to a nonstop cycle of intake and dissatisfaction. Willis suggests that this mindset is harmful and unsustainable, as it perpetuates a culture of overconsumption and disregard for the repercussions of our actions.