Did anyone watch HGTV's program on million dollar rooms, last night?

[Frustratedlady]

I was repulsed...repulsed even more than I expected to be. I didn't even see the majority of the rooms, but I saw enough to anger me at how anyone could spend so much money when the economy is hurting...or any other time, for that matter.

The worst I viewed was the last woman showing her "walk-in" (understatement)closet and expressing how much money it takes to fill this monstrosity. As much as she boasted about her fancy, color-coordinated "closet" the more I wondered if she had any true friends left who could tolerate her bloviating or if she spent most of her time playing with her million$ in shoes, purses and fancy togs. She was nauseating.

It would have been interesting to know how the money was made, but I suspect much of it was from bonuses...pin money for the rich.

[Uben]

1. You're worried that they're spending in a bad economy?

That spending helps the economy! While the rest of us are tightening our belts, it's good that someone is spending money and buying goods. I wanna see an episode on $10 million rooms!

[FSogol]

2. My wife was watching, but turned it off when it came to the Dallas woman's million dollar closet.

Reminded me of the Big Audio Dynamite (Mick Jones) song about Imelda Marcos

"Never had a conscience or any moral views,
Even any kind of taste, just 2000 shoes
If I had the world to sell, could strike a deal with you
I know you haven't got the cash, just 2000 shoes"

[Saphire]

3. All of the money "wasted" on their frivolous crap seems to have employed

at least a few carpenters and sales people. Nothing wrong with that.

[w8liftinglady]

6. Unfortunately,Texas is infamous for working the labor force cheap.

http://www.homeownersoftexas.org/Construction-worker-abuse.html

The home in Dallas reminds me of the mansions in Dubai.... the mansions in Highland Park and University Park are a few block from the homeless and desperately poor,as well as Parkland Hospital,the largest County healthcare facillity for uninsured in Texas..

[Frustratedlady]

7. That is awful. I can't believe those numbers. Thanks for the links.

I realize this opulence requires labor and that we need all the labor/jobs we can get, but I also think of the taxes these people evaded...as evidenced in some of those articles...as well as other benefits.

When contractors or homeowners, themselves, drive by a corner and select the workers they need, you know they aren't paying full wages, taxes, benefits, etc., but no matter how small the amount, it all adds up and what they (employers/laborers) don't pay, we pay.

[TwilightGardener]

4. I'm always of two emotions when it comes to rich folks on HGTV: disdain and envy.

I confess I have a weakness, I really like nice materials, architecture, gardens, furniture...I'm looking out my window and imagining a flagstone patio instead of concrete, looking in my kitchen and imagining a limestone countertop and a big farmhouse sink instead of laminate and enameled steel...I don't think I could begin to approach a million dollars for one room, though, even if I could get everything I wanted. That's excessive.

[sufrommich]

13. Me too. I like to imagine all the different places I would own

homes if I won the lottery. A girl can dream.

[jillan]

16. I'm with you. I love watching these shows, I don't know why - if I was a millionaire I would

still scour the clearance racks at Ross, it's in my blood.

I must confess I have Selling New York set up on my DVR so I don't miss a show. It's like looking into the lifestyle of someone I will never be, even if I had the finances.

[quinnox]

5. no, but did see the commercials for it on tv

I didn't think it would be good to watch, I don't care about a million dollar room.

I do occasionally watch shows on super mansions and beautiful ultra high end homes, for fantasy entertainment. But million dollar rooms do nothing for me, except make me think whoever spent that much on one room is a real fool.

[hamsterjill]

8. Jobs, maybe. But what about a little charitable giving?

I'm sorry, but when I see opulence like this, it sickens me. What about these people's responsibility to take care of those less fortunate? I mean, sure in a capitalist society, the goal is to do well financially. But when the goal simply becomes feeding the greediness with a "more, more, more!!!" mentality, that's when it crosses the line for me.

[Frustratedlady]

10. Amen! n/t

[jberryhill]

9. "how anyone could spend so much money when the economy is hurting"

Ummm... while lavish excess is repulsive in its own right, the general idea is that particularly when the economy is hurting, spending is not a bad thing.

[Frustratedlady]

11. Spread it around and we could speed that spending faster than in the

hands of a few.

I'm willing to do my part.

[spooky3]

12. depends - are those items being manufactured in the US?

if not, the spending does little to stimulate job growth here. If she bought a lot of services from local contractors, did she pay fair wages?

Did the income that produced the ability to spend come from honest work or investment, or was this a case of exploitation of lower paid employees vs. high CEO salaries/bonuses/etc. (who, if paid more, could have spent it in more "stimulative" ways) or Ponzi schemes (e.g., others were robbed of their spending opportunities and security)?

[jberryhill]

14. Well, yes, without writing a treatise....

...what the money is spent ON does matter. But frivolous spending by wealthy people is better than locking it up in a Swiss bank account somewhere.

[spooky3]

17. Agreed that of those two choices it is, but my point is that that's a false dichotomy.

There may be more just and more economically beneficial alternatives to their having it in the first place.

[jberryhill]

18. Ah, good point /nt

[Marrah_G]

15. I can't watch those shows

The people are so shallow and self absorbed it turns my stomach.

[Frustratedlady]

19. That last one certainly was. n/t

[Cleita]

20. My mom and I would spend Sunday pretending we

were rich. We would dress up very nicely, go to brunch at the Beverly Hilton, then we would attend open houses in wealthy neighborhoods. Of course we had to park a way down the road or street so the realtors wouldn't see her Ford Falcon. You didn't have to have an appointment back then to see many of those mansions or posh apartments. Closets that were as large as my whole apartment weren't that unusual or bathrooms that could have made a Roman Emperor happy and this was back when the progressive tax rate was 90% for rich people. So I think increasing taxes for the rich instead of giving them tax breaks wouldn't affect their life style at all.

[Frustratedlady]

21. I'll bet you had a lot of fun, as well.

I watch HGTV most evenings and love to look at remodeling shows the most. But, this show was different...I suppose because of the bank/corporate exposures of greed (while foreclosing on homes), unemployment, etc.

I fell asleep before the show started and came in when they were showing the `50s diner, theater and railroad setup.