Chapter 40. Waste and Luxury
1. Can we determine what luxury is, or give the notion definiteness?
2. Do you feel a sense of injustice when you read of a millionaire's ball if you are not a millionaire?
3. Can you excuse the sense of injustice felt by the hungry man when he sees you wear patent-leather shoes and kid gloves?
4. Under private property, can men complain of the use made by others of their wealth on the ground merely that it was unwise?
5. Is luxury necessary to give employment to labor?
6. Is the spendthrift the best friend of labor?
7. Ought legislation attempt to prevent luxury, or can public opinion affect it?
8. Is smoking high-priced cigars economically justifiable, assuming that the smoker is wealthy and does not injure his health thereby?
9. Wines, balls, pensions are said to be good because they put money into circulation. Criticize.
10. What is the difference between the consumption of wealth and its destruction?
11. In what ways can a piece of iron be consumed, economically speaking?
12. Was the great Chicago fire, which led to the rebuilding of the city, a good thing economically?