Luxury Shame

Hey greyzone, you have got to be kidding me, shame???? Please "and if you are a minority, then you can go to college for almost next to nothing". I went to college on financial aid and when my daugther started college
she did not qualify for aid. Why, because her parents were able to send her to college. I wish people like yourself would let it go, minorities work hard and do the RIGHT THING! Do not blame me or us for the problems this country face. We did not cause this mess and you know that, blame the WHITE MAN!

I believe 'Mr. Brandon' (below) is looking at the world through rose colored glasses. He expects the rich to bail out every single poor person on the face of the earth!! FUHGEDDABOUDIT!!!! I work my A** off to accumulate wealth through VERY hard work and brains......and then you expect me to dole it out to those people who really DIDN'T work hard and work smart???!!! I THINK NOT!!!! Capitalism is the American Way in this country......and ain't it grand??!! By the way, 'Mr. Brandon' FORGETS about all of the charitable contributions that the wealthy make on a daily basis. I think 'Mr. Brandon' is unwilling to admit his own failures in life and is now looking for a huge 'handout!!' It ain't gonna' happen!! God Bless The U.S.A.!!!!!

I contacted one billionaire who claims to be giving his money away. I am in desparate need of help in order to keep from living on the street. This individual replied that his philanthropic organization does not help unsolicited requests for assistance. So why then advertise that he is giving his money away? I wasn't asking for a million dollars. This organization states on its website that it assists children/young and the ageing. I fall into the ageing catagory. If they want to lose some of that guilt, they should give to the needy during this time of disparity. I'm standing on a banana peel at the top of an icy hill and at any given time could be on the street. I have a job, trying to keep it. I work for a small business that is feeling the financial stress of today. I do not own a home that is being foreclosed on, just renting. I do not own a credit card, nor have I run up any debt as I work for minimum wage and cannot get a loan/credit card for anything. My paychecks go just for the necessities of life and I barely get by. If I miss one day of work, due to illness, my bills have to shuffled around for payment because I am behind one day of pay. What's wrong with the rich helping someone out like me? I drive a 21 year-old car that I pray starts up everyday in order to get to work. I have no health coverage, therefore cannot afford doctor visits or medication I am supposed to be taking. I have 2 grandchildren who will not have what others have under the Christmas tree.....again. But I still have a smile on my face everyday and pray for those who cannot see where the need lies. Have a Merry
Christmas everyone! God Bless Us All!!

Good for you.. the ones that are rich and earned it. However, don't feel ashamed and stop spending your wealth. By all means, buy the new Ferrari, enjoy showing it off, and at the same time yhou are boosting the economy.

MrBrandon: To say that this is about big screen TVs would imply you didn't read this article. We're talking about people that have art collections AND homes in the double digit millions, which is a far cry from someone plunking down $800 at Costco.

Why do some people make more than others? Who is John Galt? When you start hearing the expression "In times like these, ....", beware. Controls (including the imposition of guilt) on the wealthy, who purchase items made by people who are not wealthy, penalize most those "who come behind." The best way the rich can "take care of" the poor is to buy things that the poor can make and sell.

If the rich are cutting back on their spending on luxury items, maybe they can come up with some creative ways to help those that are not so fortunate. They could help those that work for them, pay off their bills, home, or create a trust for their kids. They could setup shelters, provide emergency supplies, offer to fix some roads, build community centers, make scholarships available to students. Granted they may not get monetary profits from this, but they would help build families, communities, and would get more respect from those that they do help. If you are ashamed, turn it around so people can be proud of what you do with your money.

If the rich are cutting back on their spending on luxury items, maybe they can come up with some creative ways to help those that are not so fortunate. They could help those that work for them, pay off their bills, home, or create a trust for their kids. They could setup shelters, provide emergency supplies, offer to fix some roads, build community centers, make scholarships available to students. Granted they may not get monetary profits from this, but they would help build families, communities, and would get more respect from those that they do help. If you are ashamed, turn it around so people can be proud of what you do with your money.

The notion that the "rich" should feel shame is preposterous. If someone has worked hard, or has been industrious enough to develop and proliferate a needed or desired commodity (such as Ted Turner did with cable television), then there is no reason for them to feel shame in enjoying those spoils that their hard work produced.
Make no mistake about it (as the author below said - the wealthly do NOT have the responsibility for taking care of the poor. You do NOT have to give your wealth away.
A lot of wealthy people give huge amouts to charitable causes, but only because they wish to, not because its dictated to them, and thats the way it should be.
When you are born in the US, you have every opportunity to obtain wealth as the next guy. For some, it may come tougher, but the opportunity is there.
Thats what makes this country so damn great.

The reason the Rich should feel shame is because with wealth comes the responsibility of taking care of those that are poor - make NO mistake about it. You dont need or deserve a big screen TV when someone cannot afford their medication or heating bill. It involves more than just volunteering time, everyone gets 24 hours a day, not everyone gets 30,000 a year. You have to give a substantial and majority of your money and wealth away. The Rich are not free from judgement and thats why they feel shame.

I agree with what mrarcadian said about how some are getting richer by layoffs and raising rents, but if some rich made their money in their own way, what's the problem? I hate how the media assumes that those of us who aren't rich don't want to hear about wealth right now. The show "High Net Worth" comes on at off hours now. Why? My husband and I still believe our wealthy days are coming so why would we not to kepp looking at what will one day be us too!?continue to keep what will be in front of our eyes??continue t

I agree with what mrarcadian said about how some are getting richer by layoffs and raising rents, but if some rich made their money in their own way, what's the problem? I hate how the media assumes that those of us who aren't rich don't want to hear about wealth right now. The show "High Net Worth" comes on at off hours now. Why? My husband and I still believe our wealthy days are coming so why would we not to continue to keep what will be in front of our eyes??continue t

isnt it curious that most of the poeple mentoned in the aeticle are jews...somehow, they always kow how to exploit the rest of us...

if they feel guilty, how about lgiving me some, i could pay off some of my bills. seriously though. being in debt is not fun. when the rich becomes wealthy by cutting down on thier workers or on materials just to make them more money like raising rent, on the poorer people maybe they should feel guilty. rich bastards.

don't know why should feel guilty unless got the wealth through stealing, corruption, and fraud. if made wealth through hard work, ingenuity, and just plain luck, go and spend. i wish i had a lot of money. i would not feel guilty but blessed. the ones who should feel guilty are the those corrupt govt officials who get elected through deception but allow to receive the best health care and other perks on the backs of hard working taxpayers!!

Greed : [noun] excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves.

While many of the rich may be guilty of the ???excessive desire to acquire more than they need???, and, in many cases, to the point of being ostentatious most of the poor are certainly guilty of the ???excessive desire to acquire more than they deserve???.

What do you call jealousy and hatred of not having what others have???

Wake up you f-ing morons! The difficulties and extravagance of managing capitalism is infinitely better than the strangulation and slow death of socialism.

What's money for? You can either spend it or use it for TP. Personally I like spending it. Enjoy your wealth.

dakota, it's B.O. not o.b. dumba$$.

Obama ran on changing what we have had to endure over the last 8 years of the Bush administration, not the Clinton Admin. Get it right Dakota. And what's wrong with a BJ?