Comments on The Atheist Missionary: The immorality of conspicuous consumption

Tim said: "it's certainly no more wasteful to buy ...

2009-06-03T22:21:29.993-04:00

Tim said: "it's certainly no more wasteful to buy bottled water than it is to buy a soda". I can't disagree with that.

Given the absolutely horrible taste of most tap wa...

2009-06-03T13:37:13.619-04:00

Given the absolutely horrible taste of most tap water, bottled water isn't entirely wasteful. Granted, it would be smarter to get a simple filter for the tap, but if you're out and about and have a choice between unfiltered tap and bottled water, it's certainly no more wasteful to buy bottled water than it is to buy a soda. Considering that most unfiltered tap water also has a higher amount of chemicals, I'd say it's even sensible to either filter or drink filtered water.

While this set of morals is something I can agree ...

2009-06-03T12:19:24.050-04:00

While this set of morals is something I can agree with, I would also point out that Art is worth more than the sum of its parts, and berating others for paying a large sum for a painting is absurd. This includes much of fashion. When you contribute money to designers and artists, you are contributing to culture and the expansion of exploration of the human condition.

Sneakers or drivers, wherein lies morality? Is it...

2009-05-04T16:45:00.000-04:00

Sneakers or drivers, wherein lies morality? Is it in utility or cost efficiency? It seems completely arbitrary. When compared to suffering how can one be moral and not the other? By what logic can a sneaker be an immoral purchase, but a driver is reasonable? Isn't it all subjective?

The life of an impoverished child or a soldier, which is worth more? Which should be the real priority? I don't know.

Buying a Hummer or an Escalade or any big car to t...

2009-05-04T15:01:00.000-04:00

Buying a Hummer or an Escalade or any big car to transport one 180 Lbs human being, that's immoral.

Mrs Obama can wear anything she wants at any cost ...

2009-05-04T10:52:00.000-04:00

Mrs Obama can wear anything she wants at any cost if that is what they can afford. It is no ones business of the cost of wardrobe. How many US soldiers died last week? Come on lets get our priorities in order.

Another Fool, I don't pretend to be perfect. I dr...

2009-05-04T09:16:00.000-04:00

Another Fool, I don't pretend to be perfect. I draw the line long before asceticism (attested to by the Callaway driver referred to in my post). However, I am trying to eumlate Peter Singer's view in The Life You Can Save. Simply put - I am trying not to waste money and I am trying to ensure that a decent percentage of my income is devoted to worthy causes that improve the lot of the world's suffering.

In Michelle Obama's defense, she is already receiv...

2009-05-04T08:01:00.000-04:00

In Michelle Obama's defense, she is already receiving heat for her off-the-rack dresses and use of domestic designers. Seriously, can you even remember another first lady who's worn sneakers? I'm betting most other U.S. first ladies wear much more expensive shoes that no one even bothers to comment about.
I must admit that if she wanted to make a statement, she should have worn sneakers made domestically. And $500!

Where do you draw the line? By this logic, in a w...

2009-05-04T02:32:00.000-04:00

Where do you draw the line? By this logic, in a world where anyone dies from lack of money, any non-essential spending is immoral. Is this just a problem with capitalism in general?

Bogus, my point is simply that all of the listed i...

2009-05-03T22:20:00.000-04:00

Bogus, my point is simply that all of the listed items are (in my opinion) akin to pissing your money into the bay.

I wouldn't support a house of worship. I'd rather buy $540 sneakers - at least they exist.

If this was a Republican First Lady, the media wou...

2009-05-03T19:48:00.000-04:00

If this was a Republican First Lady, the media would be on this story like rabid animals. But Obama will get a free pass.

So, you group supporting a house of worship with c...

2009-05-03T16:08:00.000-04:00

So, you group supporting a house of worship with cigarettes, prada purses, and pesticides? I fail to see your logic.

Just how would you support a house of wroship? Or is that the hidden message of your page?

Perhaps you might want to rethink?

Spending large amount of money does not waste the ...

2009-05-03T15:52:00.000-04:00

Spending large amount of money does not waste the money. The money was given to someone for their products and labor. They, in turn spend that money on other things. While I think that spending $500 on a pair of sneakers is silly, the manufacturer of that sneaker was able to pay his workers with that $500.
Would you feel better is the sneakers in question were made by poor people? Then that money would be used to pay the poor people for their work.
Wealth is not based entirely on the costs of materials and labor. Your understanding of basic economics seems very weak.
People who have money should spend it or invest it in something productive (like stocks and bonds). That way the workers who create the goods can feed their families, and the businesses that employ these people can continue to operate.
What would you have her do with her money? Hide it? That benefits no one.
Give it away? Alms do some short term benefit, but helping to create and sustain jobs is a long term benefit that helps to pay for itself.