You mean your iPad, mobile phone, toaster, TV set, computer, digital camera, MP3 player and 90% of the other stuff around you? ;-)
Or maybe I'm trying too much to actually run an empire instead of just crunching some numbers.
If the Soviet Union didn't care for such luxuries, why should my nation?
I want steel! More steel! How can I claim the far corners of the universe for my empire if I don't get more steel? Petty consumer goods won't help the glory of the nation!
I mean, seriously, with mind control and all, why would our people even care for consumer goods?