America’s livability falters because consumer goods regularly go south and need replacing.
Take six pricey items that crashed within one week recently. Please.
In the trash are two computer monitors, a computer hard drive, a washing machine, an electric toothbrush and an above-counter coffee maker.
Except for the 36-year-old washer and 10-year-old toothbrush, the items were less than three years old. The first was manufactured before the advent of planned obsolescence.
In this electronic age, who can survive without computing or clean fabrics and teeth? Or the necessary jolt of caffeine?
Before terrorists disrupt America’s power grids, start hoarding firewood, stamps, typewriters, envelopes and washboards.
The end is near. (19 OCTOBER 2003)
