[a fool in paradise]

There were examples of rabid conspicuous consumerism in Terry Southern’s The Magic Christian (I have only seen the 1960s filmed version, never read the book) and Ivan Stang’s 1970s pre-Bob Dobbs subterranean clown world “future” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHx2nLFMAzE).

I have an old book on “the madness of crowds”. The behavior is nothing new (even if it is rude).

[Revolting cat!]

Yes, it’s nothing new. You should have been in the Eastern Block when the Berlin Wall fell (heck, even before.)

[ansel12]

I did enjoy that movie when it came out.