Breaking News, Cartoons, Fraud, Gov't Waste, Opinion, Politics, Really stupid ideas from politicians, This Just In!, Travel Opinion: ‘Green’ — the status symbol the affluent can afford that costs the poor Posted onMarch 24, 2016March 24, 2016 With “green” having become a status symbol, the affluent can afford it. Their desire to “broadcast their own goodness” actually results in higher costs to those who can least afford it.