Capitalism’s fancy handbag of tricks

http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2015/jun/09/capitalism-handbag-tricks-fashion-industry

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Hadley Freeman’s piece is headed “The search for the perfect handbag, dress or lipstick will never, ever end” (9 June). Of course it won’t. The capitalist/consumerist system depends on it. People must continuously be persuaded that they are discontented with what they have. There are two multibillion-pound industries dedicated to the perpetuation of this state of discontent – advertising and fashion. Without them our energy could be freed up for creative endeavours. They are mind-numbing, like compulsively watching television.Jim McCluskeyTwickenham

• Your correspondent’s claim that heavy spending by the Conservatives skewed the result in Chippenham is dubious (Letters, 6 June). The swing from Lib Dem to Conservative was 11.45% with both parties spending heavily, whereas in the adjacent constituency, Wiltshire North, where neither party spent heavily, the swing was higher (13.1%).Michael PonsonbyEmsworth, Hampshire

• Making personal remarks about a party leader during an election campaign, complaining about what she is served as a guest (Ambassador, we’re really not spoiling you, G2 9 June)? Sylvie-Agnès Bermann doesn’t sound like ambassador material to me.Ann BurgessLincoln

• Re Carsten Höller’s “surreal exercises” (How to be weird, G2, 9 June), it made me laugh. It brought back memories of my social work training in the 1970s.Poppy (Clare) BarkerNewport-on-Tay, Fife

• A bit ripe for the Guardian to complain that theatre ticket prices have risen by 400% over the last 11 years (Report, 6 June), when your own cover price has risen by a similar percentage over the last 15.Jim WaightHertford

• Never mind “invite/quote” (Letters, 6 June), what about the ubiquitous “ask” used as a noun? I wonder why, when “request” is only one syllable longer.Philippa LoweLondon