Obscene Consumption

[hydralique]

It may be disgusting but it is pretty much impossible to stop. If you tax these individuals in a punitive manner, they'll just move the money to other countries with lower tax rates. If you try to regulate the size of the house without reference to the lot size (so that a mega-mansion can't be built even on a lot of adequate size), then the owner is just going to build it elsewhere, either in another juristiction, another state, or another country. Anyone with the resources to build a 75 millon dollar home certainly has the resources to fly to Mexico, Canada, or elsewhere if that's where he can build his dream home.

I don't work on mega-mansions like this, but a good friend of mine is an architect who does from time to time. He has made a career of working for construction companies who need professional level help in coordinating the work of the design architects, landscape architects, interior designers, etc. He recently ended two years of working extensively on a mega-mansion on the California coast, and that project helped support him and his family for that time. I'd much rather see guys like this benefit than people elsewhere if the homeowner prefers to build in California in the first place, as opposed to forcing him to take his money out of the state.

Hopefully the owner of the 75 million dollar home does contribute to charity. If not, then at least he must have employed many people while he made his fortune and that certainly does benefit the region.

 

[48bencix]

Carbon guilt

This home was built for wealth display. Currently wealthy individuals are building with low-impact, green, sustainability in mind. This home, obviously ignored these features, and the owner wants to sell and move on to something that makes more sense to the environment.

Martin

 

[thor]

View from abroad

As one of the few foreigners of this group, and please believe me I don't intend to be rude or anything close to it with anyone here, this very image you all in general despise about this unknown person who spent $ 75M on a house is, well (I'll try to say it without offending onyone here) how Americans are seen in general from abroad: as an extremely wasteful society.

This is not my personal point of view, but most people I know from this country and countless other countries I've been to see America as a land of waste, meaning waste of resources, money, ridiculous big cars, exhuberant houses, extremely cold everywhere air conditioning in summer and extremely warm heating in winter, appliances that are trashed while still in perfect operating condition, street lighting most everywhere for hours on end, and the list goes on and on and on.

Please remember the following statistics: America makes up for 5 % of the world population and consumes almost 40 % of its energy. You might all be able to effortlessly pay your utility bills, but, can America (or the environment) afford it? This is just one of the facts related to the American way of life that people from overseas see and completely disagree with.

You are by far the richest society on earth, and I think you can spend your well earned money in the best way you like. But I can assure you not many poeople from other countries agree with my point of view.

Emilio

 

[whirlcool]

street lighting most everywhere for hours on end,

We need this to help control the runaway crime in our country due to political correctness!

 

[dalangdon]

Hey, watch it! Part of my job is working with neighborhoods about their street light needs ;-)

 

[lightedcontrols]

The Wealthy...

Glenn,
Isn't wealth owning two dishwashers instead of one, when some people have none?
Isn't wealth owning two washers (or more) when some people have none?
Isn't wealth being able to get into your car, when some people have none?
Isn't it OBSCENE to have TWO dishwashers????
Isn't it OBSCENE to have TWO washers???
Isn't it OBSCENE to own a car???
My main message here is GET OVER IT GIRL! If someone wants to display their wealth, why not???? After all, they did EARN it!
Personally, I don't feel like I need to support Americas healthcare system, Americas immigrants, or America's losers that are living continually on wellfare. IF YOU WANT THAT KIND OF STATE, MOVE TO A COMMUNIST COUNTRY. Now, instead of bitching about someone's chandolier, go find something important to think about. (see Gyrafoam's post) Mark

 

[DADoES]

Thanks to everyone for the clarification. I suffered a momentary lapse in judgment in stating my thoughts and I apologize for the thread.

 

[whirlcool]

I didn't think you did anything wrong!

DADOES

You basically just it be known what you thought of this type of spending. Everyone has their own feelings about these kinds of things, and if you feel that way, so what?
Remember, in a free society people get to think whatever they want, and not necessarily out of fear of being political correct!

 

[toggleswitch]

What do you expect me to do with that? (Laughs and points) I

Should anyone feel the need to spend big-bucks, feel free to write a cheque payable to moi-meme.

The name is spelled ------------
My address is ------------------

Thank you kindly.

In the days I was an accountant for some upper-crust peeps, I enjoyed reconcilng a checkbook that was strictly for donations that were non-political. (READ: tax-deductible). *SIGH* I'm quite condident that my entire LIFE's earnings (past present and future) were spent in a year or less.

I must say I GIGGLED at my paycheck the very next time it came to me.

Money doesn't buy happiness.
But at least you can be miserable in style and in comfort.

 

[brettsomers]

Glenn's post didnt strike me as bitching at all. lighted's response is just a wee bit over the top, IMO.

 

[lightedcontrols]

no bret...

...it was bitching about the rich (since blacks, Jews, Christians, Mexicans, etc. are off limits....and to tell you the truth, I'm really over it. Who in the hell do you think supports creative artists, great musicians, and lazy assholes that LIVE on welfare....it AIN'T the poor honey. Mark

 

[lightedcontrols]

and by the way...

I have 2 Chihuly peices, a Manet pencil drawing, a Warhol, 5 original Skelton paintings tripple signed, a Vincent Price painting, and LOTS of other expensive and rare works of art as well as a few letters from Presidents. Isn't THAT OBSCENE??? Mark

 

[lightedcontrols]

...and one last thing....

Glenn,
Please don't hate me because I'm BEAUTIFUL too!!! Hugs,
Mark Lightedcontrols

 

[dalangdon]

"Who in the hell do you think supports creative artists, great musicians, and lazy assholes that LIVE on welfare....it AIN'T the poor honey"

Well, it ain't the rich, either. "Creative artists" receive most of their funding from sale of their works, government grants, and some corporate largess. Since neither the rich nor the corporations pay their share of taxes, that's out.

"Great Musicians" live on the royalties of their music, proceeds from their concerts, and sales of their records.

I'm happy for your wealth, and you're welcome to wear it as flamboyantly as you like. But don't look for any sympathy for your supposed plight. And since you obviously know nothing about welfare, or the lives of the people that need to use it, you might not want to talk about it. It makes you look foolish.

 

[lightedcontrols]

actually....

...there are several members of my own family that are on welfare. (McDowell County, West Virginia) They have found that it is much easier to make more money NOT working that holding a job. Artists sell their works to the people that can afford them. I can't recall seeing any of the poor owning or buying works of art. Can you? And as far as taxes go, I paid OVER $300,000.00 in income taxes last year alone. Another $260,000.00 in property taxes. So yes, the rich DO pay taxes. What MORON told you that the rich and corporations don't pay taxes. I can't believe that you are that ill informed. What planet are you from??? I never ask for sympathy from the stupid. Mark

 

[toggleswitch]

Everyone BREATHE!

Wealth is apparently not a problem I'm gonna have to think about for myself. LOL

I have no issues with rich or poor. But I always have in the back of my mind that one severe house-fire or car accident can wipe a person out and change life forever.

I look at it this way:

Thank you G-d for everything I have and everyhing I don't have. AMEN.

I need some cake.............

 

[gadgetgary]

Cake????

Let's all enjoy some together.....

 

[mayken4now]

Roses are Red - Violets are Blue - I am Obscene and so are you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VOTE for "W" - now that's OBSCENE

SUPPORT the war - now that's OBSCENE

psst, i have a couple of John Kiraly's for sale!!!!!!!!

20,000 a peice

Steve

 

[dalangdon]

Oh whatever. I could counter your antcedotes with my antcedotes until the cows come home. But it's too nice a day to enable a victim complex, and we've had enough catfights recently.

Enjoy your money, honey, and believe whatever you want.

As Dorothy Parker (a bona fide millionaire) observed, "If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to."

With that said, I'll have some cake please.

 

[48bencix]

By comparison

As Emilio (thor) pointed out, by comparison with the rest of the world, everyone here is a huge consumer. Sure, there is "plenty of oil" "plenty of natural gas" "plenty of land" to pave over, but do we really have to use it up as fast as we do? And I don't know if anyone noticed, a lot of that fossile fuel is located in places that are quite hostile to this country.

And I really do think that people should do what they want, after all this is the USA. But many of us, regardless of what we have in the bank, are trying to make less of an impact on the earth. I don't mean having a front loading washer instead of a top loader either, that isn't even a drop in the bucket.

But, we are looking into building more efficient buildings, more efficient cars. Solar panels to power some of our usages. Wind power. More compact living, i.e. walkable cities. These things will make a difference. And, sure, support the arts, including the chandlier makers if you so choose, but is there a possibility of led lights in those things?

Martin