Walking the streets of the Strip (which in itself is a very un-American experience because of the prevalence of cars) only serves to reinforce the notion that this is a city founded upon a belief in the worst aspects of American consumerism, the appeal to vanity, the notion that goods are a means to happiness. Indeed, even before entering any of the casino complexes, multiple neon signs and large scale advertising seek to encourage consumption, whilst the sidewalks are also filled to the brim with ways to spend, whether that be in the various shops, outdoor bars, or by taking photos with show girls/movie characters. The casinos themselves also seek to encourage and sustain this consumption through various means, whether that be by offering free bets and drinks to those gambling, or providing other amenities in the form of shopping and celebrity chef-sponsored restaurant dining.
In contrast to the glamour of the Strip, the
presence of numerous homeless people on the streets (as well as the poor
residential areas and half built complexes observed on Day One) offer a
different perspective of the city, an environment still suffering from the
effects of the financial crisis of 2008. Indeed, with lower income households
in Las Vegas having “lower incomes in 2013 than they did in 2007” (Berube et al., 2015), and the people protesting to have the minimum wage
raised, one might legitimately whether the American Dream, that is the notion
of rags
to riches, and of reward for hard work, is still alive in Las Vegas, or indeed
whether it has ever been. This is somewhat ironic for a city, that outwardly is
built on the premise of promising riches, and perhaps offer some insight into
why income inequality has become such a salient topic in American politics
today.
Berube, A., and
Holmes N. (2015) Some cities are still more unequal than other – an update. Brookings Institution. Available at: http://www.brookings.edu/research/reports2/2015/03/city-inequality-berube-holmes
[Accessed May 14, 2016]
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