While human society seems to value some professions with little attention to their social importance, we cannot deny anyone the income that his/her talent and hard work may produce within a free and open market. How that money is spent, on the other hand, has a significant impact on the welfare of society as a whole.
Though legal restrictions on the various forms of consumption would be inappropriate, one hopes that those with high incomes have a social conscience. After all, the willingness of many wealthy individuals to support education, creative arts, community recreation, social services and environmental programs has long been vital to the welfare of urban and rural communities.
Yet, extravagance persists. Massive homes, luxury-focused lifestyles, excessive personal consumption, outrageous galas and preferential treatment by both the political and private sectors have a negative impact on the welfare of human society and on the health of natural ecosystems. Indeed, the greatest threat to our environment is the excessive (and often needless) consumption of natural resources, leading to resource depletion, pollution, the destruction of natural habitat and the loss of sensitive species. While the rewards of hard work should not be denied, the personal choice to refrain from extravagance is a gift to others and to our home planet.
