fat_lazy_union, is your last name Jones or are you just trying to keep up? As to plasma TV's, they are a set piece like granite counter tops. I suppose people pick on them because thats the biggest size that is widely available. Plasma TV's came on the market en masse at just about the time the RE bubble really started blowing up. Its no suprise that people associate them with excess. I sincerely doubt its envy.

Yes, I want to keep up with the 100% financed, credit card debt ridden Jones down the street.. Um no..The Jones are in the poor house. If I were to keep up with anyone, it would be with the Kim's or Wong's down the street :). 

Actually, the real issue is I don't want to be in a Toyota Prius/Corolla/civic/accord/camry when a Cadillac Escalade ESV/H2 driven by a soccer mom/dad talking on the cell phone slams into me with a kid in the car. on the 5/805/56/15.

The CA DMV should create a new license type for these large trucks/SUV (like a class C-2). You should have to go through extra training to have the privilege to drive these things. They dynamics/braking/handling are much different from regular cars. And the too many ignorant people drive these SUVs like cars.