> Let all the 1% jerks who consume 10x what I do live considerably leaner.

Okay, but what percentage are you in?

Judging by your comment history, I'm going to assume you're in the US. That already puts you pretty close to the top 1% on a global scale.

Should everyone in the world look at Americans living a standard American lifestyle and think, "let all the 5% jerks who consume 5x what I do live considerably leaner"?

While that may actually be a fairly reasonable response, the problem is that the same excuse can be used basically wherever you are on the ladder.

Then there's those of us who do live without cars, with little or no meat, with small houses that use little cooling/heating. What does that make us? Fools for even trying?