The phrase "no ethical consumption under capitalism" has been floating around the left-o-sphere for a little over a decade. It was originally conceived as a critique of so-called "fair trade" goods, to point out that some capitalist has still stolen some worker's surplus value, so they can't be considered ethical. However, in recent years, the phrase has been hijacked by unprincipled leftists. They have twisted the meaning of the phrase from "all products created under capitalism are created with exploited labor," to "all consumption is equally unethical." In its corrupted form, this phrase can be repeated, like a mantra, to absolve the speaker of any semblances of personal responsibility.

You found a cute top on Shein, but you feel a nagging sense of guilt about ordering from a fast fashion brand? No worries, there's no ethical consumption under capitalism anyways, so go right ahead and smash that order button. Your vegan friend made you feel bad about eating meat? It's all cool, there's no personal respons- I mean, no ethical consumption, so it doesn't matter one bit if you buy food that requires mass murder to produce. You're craving hummus, but the only choices are between Sabra and the grocery store brand, and the latter sucks? Who even cares about those Palestinian kids, just go be a consumer!

All products are created with exploited labor under capitalism, but that doesn't mean that all consumption is equally unethical. Nor does it mean that personal responsibility is dead, because everything is capitalism's fault. Yes, we need to be working towards revolution, not merely choosing the lesser of two evils. But in the meantime, while we're working on that, if you needlessly choose the greater of two evils, then of course people are going to criticize you. Your catchphrase isn't a free pass to make the shittiest choices.

Leftists would do well to criticize these types whenever they misuse this phrase.