“Mass” was the economic drive of the last few decades. Mass markets replaced national markets, which had replaced local markets. Walk into any city’s retail centers and malls a decade ago, and they looked identical. Manufacturing automation and global supply chains made goods cheaper. Clothing, curtains, bedding, hairdryers, blenders … much of what we buy has become so cheap that we throw items away rather than repairing them. My seamstress, who has been in business some 40 years, cannot believe how poorly made clothes are today. And her comments refer to the pieces she is seeing, the ones worth repairing. True, cars are more expensive. But based on their quality, longevity, and performance, they are a hell of a lot cheaper than their predecessors considering lifetime costs. And have you noticed that they increasingly look alike? IKEA brought us furniture so cheap that…