<as an overconsumer myself I certainly enjoy my lifestyle in the US. I just can't see any way to defend it as fair or moral or the right thing to do. >
Being a fat, greedy, pig is perfectly justified provided one does it in voluntary exchange with other adults. If you are stealing from other people or forcing them to work for you then it is immoral and they will find a way to do you in - slaves have a habit of revolting.
It's less easy to defend as the right thing to do from a self-interest point of view, except that if you choose to be like that, it's your life to do what you like with. The right thing to do would be to be lean and mean and taking a broader view of life than seeing how much you can consume. Another Mercedes and two more houses won't improve your happiness. 10 more doughnuts will increase your misery and bandwidth [when hunger returns but a lithe figure does not]. But, hey, as they say, if that's your choice, just do it!
Happiness doesn't come from consumption, but it's nice to have all mod cons and the goodies of life while the real pursuit of happiness goes on.
The idea that somebody consuming things in the USA is somehow depriving the starving, huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, is false. On the contrary, the drive to buy enables them to find a financial ecological niche in the global economy. So, gobble down another plateful of turkey and all the fixin's. Go for a drive in the SUV with your CDMA phone and portable tv. Buy another couple of calculators, get an air conditioner [you'll be able to eat more if you are cool].
Mqurice |
