While a bit brusque, this comment does illustrate that we're all compartmentalizing to some extent. Even pdeuchler, who suggests that same's lack of ability to

While a bit brusque, this comment does illustrate that we're all compartmentalizing to some extent. Even pdeuchler, who suggests that same's lack of ability to compartmentalize may even be a character flaw... It isn't, you're doing it already. Living and working here, paying taxes, it all supports the state to some extent. You can't escape these dilemmas and still interact with the world in basically any way. Take any product. Money that buys avocados will inevitably support Mexican cartels. Widespread guac boycotts would just starve the farmers trying to claw towards legitimacy through economic growth. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303277704579349283584121344 http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1000142405270230327770... We're all hypocrites given enough scrutiny. And there are some reasonable defenses for it. Jeremy Lott wrote a whole book on that topic, "In Defense of Hypocrisy," http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1595550526/kevinholtsber-20/ http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1595550526/kevinholts... Other arguments offered in this review: http://www.bookslut.com/nonfiction/2006_11_010195.php http://www.bookslut.com/nonfiction/2006_11_010195.php (This is, of course, assuming this is hypocritical, as not everyone finds the spying out of bounds, difficult as that may be to conceive. Entirely separate discussion there though, one that's been trod to death on these boards.)