Dennis,
what is needed is to raise *average* real wages and consumption, and that does not conflict in any manner with sound and sustainable consumption. What First Worlders really should be doing is to stop playing (even if unintentionally) the Great White Father either in exploiting "third world"ers or claiming to defend their interests in internal First World squabbles based in motive-mongering.
I know of very few overconsumption worriers who are attacking consumption by slum dwellers. For one thing, they don't consume the sort of things or in the sort of ways that are monstrously wasteful. Second, they are often the first ones impacted by the [unsustainable] consumption patterns of the wealthier classes.
When the scenario is stark as that highlighted by the recent swine flu business -- where the world's largest industrial hog farm succeeded in setting up shop in Mexico against opposition from the local population -- that point is clear enough.
--ravi
-- Anyone who takes an effort to intellectually challenge the status quo and established habits is infinitely more venerable than hacks defending that status quo and established habits, regardless of the truth function of their propositions. -- W. Sokolowski, LBO. Address the argument, damnit! -- Christopher Doss, NYC.