I must agree, Max. It's not just the USA though, but they propably get it worse than most. It's one of the factors that is driving the greed that is ruining the World. Another is that people don't realise that 'fashion' is a tax on the gullible.

Good point about diamonds. Getting people to pay a fortune for a tiny shiny rock is one of the biggest con-tricks in the world, especially when people are being killed to get hold of themm to bypass the consortium that controls the price.