I found your report rather touching about the gentleman who could not bear parting from his old car, which, to his cost, he belatedly discovered he far preferred to the new one he had bought (Honda owner finds breaking up is just too hard to do, 15 July 2000).

Mind you, I do not think that it was wise of you to report it. Imagine if too many others were to start having such feelings! It would cause havoc with the economy, which relies on people wanting a new car every few years.

And it is not just cars, but all sorts of things. If people were to become more satisfied with what they already have and repair things that break, instead of just going out and buying a new one, the economy would soon be in recession and unemployment on the rise.

The fact that this kind of economy is non-sustainable shouldn't bother us. We can leave that "little problem" for our children to sort out. We are doing fine as we are, Jack, so please do not go rocking the boat by putting ideas like that in people's heads.