I'm normally a big fan of The Atlantic's longform pieces, but this one really missed the mark with me. It certainly doesn't justify its length, and it only gave passing mention to the simple fact that companies sell what people want to buy.<p>People seem to want hope right now, and there is endless hand-wringing about how we can fight the rising nationalistic nastiness in the world. Rebuild stronger local community ties? Be more mindful of small acts of kindness? People have their own ideas, but that's what they want to buy, so that's what companies are using in their ads.<p>I think the author got the causal relationship backwards. Marketers aren't arbiters of what people think is good or right. They just do their best to express those values as they see them in the current zeitgeist.