Since World War II,the American economy has been on a "throwaway" basis,making shoddy-products that break or wear out quickly on the theory that the sooner a product wears out,the sooner the need for purchase. • Since World War II, the American economy has been on a “throwaway” basis, making shoddy-products that break or wear out quickly on the theory that the sooner a product wears out, the sooner the need for purchase. •