Do you hate materialistic people?

I'm not against people getting rich, i just hate materialistic people that live extravagant lifestyles. If i was rich i'd live a modest lifestyle in a nice middleclass home.

but we still have plenty money to spare (ie put in savings) and give to my pet causes because we live way below our means. My mother can't stand it but the more I learn about the political and economic trend in this country the more I think that I have to keep on living like I am poor because that rainy day looks like it is coming too soon.

Shows the the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous just make me want to gag. A billion $$ home that you only spend your time in 2 of its 50 rooms or some schmuck with a small penis like Jay Leno showing he has umpteen classic cars. What a waste! And then they display it on TV as something we are to be envious of.

is Leno's penis? Did you measure it?

He's Got A Big Hog :)

what about the people who make money refurbishing classic cars...or the junk yard owners who sell spare parts...ot the autozone employees that sell the car wax...or the tire makers who sell the tires...

they all benefit from Leno's hobby

per person or 5 bedrooms per person why bother?

I don't waste time worrying about how other people live.

I'm sure there are those who think my car -- a Saab 9-5 station wagon -- is too fancy and that I spend too much money on my firearms collection. (I probably do. :))

Beyond that, I don't really care about much of the things I have. I only buy stuff because I am single and bored.

If you have money and like nice things, I see nothing wrong with buying nice things including a nice house. What I have a problem with is people who buy things just for the prestigue of owning them and don't really like them or use them or people who look down on other people for not having certain things.

hating materialism is being materialistic also

but I'm not fond of materialism.

At the same time, I understand it. I know what it's like to want things, and want them badly. Sometimes I indulge and other times I don't. Sometimes I go overboard in either direction.

Guess I'm human.

Although it is fairly common for richer people to be just as (if not more) stingy with money. I remember US Census survey showed the middle class gave the most percentagewise compared to the upper classes and uber upper class, which give the least %wise.

The people in your life, how you treat others, charity towards humankind, etc. are far more important that "stuff". We all need enough to feel like we can be safe and secure in our environments and have our needs met, but aside from that, it's all pretty much icing on the cake. Besides, good taste and money don't always go hand and hand anyway.

I just think in the day to day world too. Sometimes I see these women- kind with the looks of Katherine Harris (too much make-up, claw-like manicures) driving their Hummers or Suburbans. I find it disturbing. Whereas on of the most attractive women I know in real-life is my oldest son's best friend's mom who is a single mom without much money who often shops at thrift stores and tag sales, but she puts it together and has an amazing sense of style. I think sometimes in life (I've been there too) that necessity dictates that you can't follow all the trends or expectations society puts on you, so you become more of your own individual or have to put some creative thought into things.

If your sole purpose in life is to accrue & maintain material wealth, then you have a problem. From a liberal standpoint, with wealth comes responsibility. Sorry to say, but i like money. I would like to have more. I'd like more stuff. Neat, new stuff. All I ask for, though, is financial security; not to be rich. I strive to be comfortable. Nobody wants to be poor. But don't be greedy, either.

No one gets away with having too much without getting humbled in the end. (I think that is Calvinism). I was raised by some really uptight people.

anything else. It's more that they don't really get what's important.

Rich people with no imagination who simply buy into predictable brands aren't very interesting, it's the ones who do something creative with their money that impress me, e.g. Randolph Hearst's Xanadu or an ideal (but fictional) example would be someone like Bruce Wayne/Batman.