I agree this isn't the forum or the thread to get so far off topic, so sorry about that (even though I did start the thread).

For what it's worth I spent a better part of the '80s doing production/assembly-line work in a table factory. I'm on the side of the worker and always will be. If you re-read my post it will become clear that my issue is with those who get rich off of other people's sweat and blood. And I'm not criticizing the type of work, either; whether it's boring or rewarding is a subjective thing. I also know a good number of people who have lost their jobs to overseas outsourcing.

Granted it's pretty much impossoble to be a consumer in the US without supporting some form of greed, but it's attitudes like yours, damifino, that make people think it's ok. It's not ok when one person is being exploited so that someone else can own two or three summer homes. Blame it on spoiled, selfish American consumerism if you like.

The short and sweet is this: Every dollar has two sides. One is what you get for it, and the other is where it goes. Maybe if more people realized that responsibility, there wouldn't be so many desolated mill towns in my beloved state.