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• American capitalism at its best
  John Smelcer
  Published on: 24 June 2002

• Published on: 24 June 2002

  American capitalism at its best

  • John Smelcer, University Professor

  Dear Editor

  Water used to be free. More than two-thirds of the planet is covered with water. Yet, American consumers (particularly) pay more for a bottle of water than they do for a soda, a bottle of juice, or even a beer (and yet all of these products are 90 % or more water in the first place). Cars cost more nowadays than a house did on twenty years ago. I remember going to see Star Wars (1977) for only about $...

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  Dear Editor

  Water used to be free. More than two-thirds of the planet is covered with water. Yet, American consumers (particularly) pay more for a bottle of water than they do for a soda, a bottle of juice, or even a beer (and yet all of these products are 90 % or more water in the first place). Cars cost more nowadays than a house did on twenty years ago. I remember going to see Star Wars (1977) for only about $2.50. Now it costs three hundred percent more for the same seating space in the same, old theatre to see the most recent installation of Star Wars. Turn of century homes in Brooklyn, dilapidated and leaking, with old pipes, lead paint, improper wiring, and wood rot, are selling for half a million dollars!

  In America, it seems, everything is has its price and that price increases annually. While unethical from a Judeo-Christian point of view where we should help the less fortunate, the selling of organs for major profit is well within the realm of expectations for a nation too bent on money, wealth, and insta-win lotteries.

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  Conflict of Interest:
  None declared.

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