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Looking Beyond Inflation - Barron's Interview

The debasement of the dollar would appear much greater except for another sad consequence of inflation: the continual debasement of the product to keep prices low. Whether it be thinner paper or the change from cocoa butter to oil, we have all noticed this phenomenon. Inserted in an old book I found a warranty for a sewing machine made in the 1920s - all parts guaranteed for 10 years! My favorite peeve is the Stanley thermos - When it was made in New Britain, Conn., it seemed to be indestructable - even when I would leave it on my truck tailgate and it would roll off and bounce down the highway after me. The only reason I would need a new one was when I didn't wash it for a couple years and my wife refused to open it any longer. However, my most recent didn't go 6 months before every weld and every piece of plastic was taped together. I was so disgusted I went to a website and was amazed to find the claim "built for life". However, it wasn't the product that was built for life but was built for how I live my life. Sorry, I'm an old man but I'll lay a few more thermos's in the ground before I head there myself.