Middle-class people don't "buy their tools?" "Hire other middle-class people?" Don't "indulge in luxuries like hiring other people?" WHAT THE FUCK? Home Depot, H&R Block and Emily's List would like to have a word with Mr. Rao. He's also playing directly into the hands of marketing. For the past 15 years "luxury" has meant "connoisseur" (of something) such that "luxury jeans" means "jeans that can only be recognized as cool by someone else who's into jeans." "Trading up" apparently means "spending money on things you like." And WTF was that tripe about recycling? "Your grandfather is decomposing, therefore you're a tool if you compost because you aren't dead yet?"
One good suggestion in the post is for 'The Company Men' as a story of what he partially describes. I watched it last night and it gave a good perspective how some one could be driven emotionally to not relinquish his possessions that he can not possibly afford.
Yeah, I figured there would be some "WTF" with this post.