After a week outside the U.S., I'm in shattered-worldview mode. I realize how possessions-rich and person-poor we are in this country. Despite urban legends to the contrary, I'd argue that Americans have, generally speaking, become some of the unfriendliest, unhappiest and most uncivil people in the world--not to mention some of the most entitled. Almost to a person, those I encountered outside the U.S. displayed friendliness, good manners and a helpful attitude that would put us to shame, myself included.
Only fitting, then, that a longtime suspicion should have been confirmed yesterday: Alterra's Twitter feed is almost certainly being written outside the U.S. The company has every right to do so, but it's yet another reminder that Alterra's corporate parent, Mars Drinks, is a privately-held multinational whose owners are in the super-rich league with the likes of the Koch Brothers. That's not to imply any further association, just to be plain and frank about the level of wealth transfer that--however indirectly--occurs any time we make a purchase at Alterra.
