Talking to my mom last night, she shared with me the latest horrible reality TV show she had watched. Celebrity wives had planned a gourmet party for their dogs. They hired two chefs, flew in Kobe beef, set up tables with china and linen table clothes for dogs. Now, I am not a dog-hater. I think it is great when people treat their animals well and love them. I admit I cringe a bit when dogs get treated like children, especially when I think that the inverse is also true. What has galled me is the gluttony – the unabashed flagrant and disgusting gluttony of spending tens of thousands of dollars on a dog party. When people can “afford” to that, I think it is the inverse of a Facebook post that is circulating: “If you can afford to have a tattoo, buy cigarettes, and beer then you don’t need food stamps.” So inversely, if you can afford to throw a party for your dog that includes Kobe beef, you don’t deserve a lower tax rate than the teachers, firefighters, and police to provide the underpinnings for our society.
There are starving, needy children – human children, close by, who could have been helped with that money.
Musings 
A sad sad commentary. There are a lot of people out there who have more money than sense. I am a dog owner/lover. All too often I see other people with pets who use them as surrogate children or family. The dog will never disagree with you or challenge your world view.