Consumer Culture
You want to see golf carts that cost $20,000 and go nearly 40 miles per hour? Go to The Villages in Florida. Swanky golf carts are all the rage, and people are putting serious time and money into them. Lawfully, they're only supposed to go 20 mph, but the cops aren't checking under the hoods. Quite frankly, the article is pretty boring, but the pictures are cool. * * * * * * * Trolls. When I read articles like the previous, the word "consumerism" enters my head, and I'm reminded of JPII's concerns in Centesimus Annus. But overall, these expenditures don't bother me. Three reasons: First, and most important, it's none of my business. Second, what's $20,000 for a vehicle that doubles as a second car? And third, the whole condemnation of consumerism bothers me. When JPII expressed the concerns, I was (still am) on board: it rang true, the shallowness and lack of concern with our poorer brethren and a materiality that shows a complete disregard for the spiritual. But when I hear others condemn consumerism, I just hear spite, like they want people to be poor for the sake of being poor (as opposed to being poor for the sake of spiritual poverty). In the comments section of the previous article, I saw a textbook example of the spiteful attitude that bugs me. It's by a troll whose comment box tag name is "rposner":
Oh goodie goodie! Toys and games forever! Where do I sign up for the weekly Viagra party? These people are the reason our world is dying. Too bad the rest of humanity will have to die for their greed, shallowness and stupidity. Consume, consume, consume. Then get the taxpayers to pay for your healthcare. Too bad god is dead...this would be a great place for some that good old Testament fire and brimstone. All these people will die in the revolution. That's a good thing. They are those who live by the motto:"He who dies with the most toys wins." Until our society, and indeed the world, is sterilized of this sort of vermin, the common man cannot hope for peace, freedom and a decent life. And no, not one of them will be missed.
When you read something like that and compare it to JPII, you realize it's not just a matter of someone expressing something in a different way. It's an entirely different sentiment, emanating from an entirely different worldview. The object of the concern is the same, but all the reasons and the soul itself from which the concern springs are entirely different. * * * * * * * Web Site Notice. If you didn't hear, there is now a Mises Wiki. It looks great. Also: I'm about 10% through Human Action, so I'm a Misesian now (chuckle). I haven't registered to contribute to the wiki, but I might. If I do, I'll make sure I post details here.
