Rants and Ramblings: random commentary about culture, media, politics, technology and whatnot.

juggled priorities

Slate has an interesting/funny story about affluent Americans who, while enjoying the monetary benefits of President Bush’s tax cuts, are also railing against the Bush administration’s policies and even campaigning for Democratic candidates. (“Bobos in Purgatory” - 11/13/03)

At both the macro and micro levels, there’s plenty of evidence that well-off liberals are using their increased disposable income — much of which can be attributed to the Bush tax cuts — to sate their desires for luxury goods and for political revenge. This odd condition of consumerist self-indulgence and political indignation—fueled by the same source — has reached epidemic proportions in areas where high-income Democrats tend to congregate. Many people I know are finding themselves simultaneously coping with a sense of greater well-being and a niggling sense of unease when they stop to consider to whom they owe their good fortune.

For lack of a better name, you could call it Bushenfreude.