[hristov]

You should read the article you linked to more carefully. Krugman does not criticize the flaunting of wealth at all. He is responding to an article from David Brooks who criticized the flaunting of wealth.

Krugman's point is that David Brooks' criticism of the flaunting of wealth does not jibe with Brooks opposition of progressive taxation.

Whatever else you may think of Krugman, he is a pretty smart guy and if you want to try to find flaws in his arguments you should try to pay careful attention to what he actually says.

[MarkCancellieri]

First he says:

"...for many of the rich flaunting is what it’s all about...So it’s largely about display..."

Then he says:

"...the truly rich are so removed from ordinary people’s lives that we never see what they have."

So I guess Krugman thinks that the rich flaunt their wealth for no reason, since ordinary people never see it.

[Ma8ee]

They flaunt it for other rich people to see. They don't care about the rest.

[MarkCancellieri]

Who cares what the rich see?

Krugman is just a ridiculous hack.