To back up the point about individual choice alone (not) driving increased consumerism through the 80's - here's an interesting essay (trigger warning - it's in the Guardian AND by George Monbiot) with a bit of a local link. Well, I found it interesting anyway...
100%.
This was EXACTLY my reaction. It's good entertainment, but he's getting away with murder with some of his sweeping statements. Wrong in both those cases. Especially the second one.