Obama to Propose Eliminating Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac

[Divernan]

40. Why on earth would 2 adults need 6 and 1/2 bathrooms in a one story apartment?

OK, throw in a half bath for guests, and another one for the servants - that's 3 and a half. The phrases conspicuous consumption and unseemly come to mind.

Conspicuous consumption is a term introduced by the Norwegian-American economist and sociologist Thorstein Veblen in his book "The Theory of the Leisure Class" published in 1899. The term refers to consumers who buy expensive items to display wealth and income rather than to cover the real needs of the consumer. A flashy consumer uses such behavior to maintain or gain higher social status.
The result, according to Veblen, is a society characterized by wasted time and money.

I've always seen Republicans (composed of the wealthy and the wanna-be wealthy) as poster kids for conspicuous consumption. They value each other based upon possessions, not character. It's not a characteristic traditionally valued by Democrats or Democratic politicians.