I Have No Sympathy

The Wall Street Journal, that apologetic rag now owned by the Murdochs, has a sob story to tell:

The Siegels' dream home, called "Versailles," after its French inspiration, is still a work in progress. Its steel-and-wood frame rises from the tropical suburbs of Orlando, Fla., like a skeleton from the Jurassic age of real estate. Ms. Siegel shows off the future bowling alley, indoor relaxing pools, five kitchens, 23 bathrooms, 13 bedrooms, two elevators, two movie theaters (one for kids and one for adults, each modeled after a French opera theater), 20-car garage and wine cellar built for 20,000 bottles.

At 90,000 square feet, the Siegels' Versailles is believed to be the largest private home in America. (The Vanderbilt family's Biltmore house in North Carolina is bigger at 135,000 square feet, but it's now a hotel and tourist attraction). The Siegels' home is so big that they bought 10 Segways to get around—one for each of their eight children.

After touring the house, Ms. Siegel walks out to the deck, with its Olympic-size pool, future rock grotto, three hot tubs and 80-foot waterfall overlooking Lake Butler. Her eyes well up with tears.

If this doesn't fit the definition of "wretched excess," I'm not certain what does.

The WSJ article goes on to tell the rest of the Siegel's sad story, mainly as defense to their argument that the second-tier rich are so overextended on their credit that the slightest hiccup in the economy sends them over the edge to bankruptcy and liquidation.

In a final coda to the sob story, Mrs. Siegel relates how they had to give up their Gulfstream private jet and - gasp! Quelle horreur! - take a commercial jet.

Too fucking bad, lady. You probably went first class. Sit back in coach with the rest of us proles.