Dear Tom and Ray:

I work for a rental car company in Mons, Belgium, and most of my customers are Americans. Here's my question: Why do so many Americans feel obliged to clear all the garbage out of their homes and dump it into their rental cars before they return them to us? In some cases, we could change the engine in less time than it takes to clean the interior of the car. Another thing, the ashtray is always clean, but the carpet is covered in ash and candy wrappers. What do Americans think the ashtray is for? Finally, is it an American custom to hide empty cans and take-away food boxes under the seats? Maybe if I understood "the American way" it would make it more acceptable for me. Any comment? -- David

Tom: Yes, David. I could see how, from a foreign perspective, this looks like sloppy and even inconsiderate behavior. But it is actually yet another example of good old American ingenuity.

Ray: It's part of America's job-creation program abroad. You might have noticed that the United States always has among the lowest rates of unemployment in the civilized world. And why, you might ask? Because we Americans know how to make work.

Tom: The Americans who rent your cars are just worried about the poor Belgians who live in your country. What if they have no work to do? How will they feed their families?

Ray: So, when driving a rental car, the thoughtful American is likely to take the extra time to place an empty pizza box securely under the passenger seat. He knows that your company will have to assign, and pay, somebody to clean out the car and retrieve the garbage. And if lots of people place pizza boxes under seats, the company will eventually have to hire a person whose sole job it is to fish out empty pizza boxes.

Tom: But the American, being even more thoughtful, does not stop there. To ensure work for more of your Belgian countrymen, he has his wife throw a half-empty yogurt container on the floor in the back, providing work for a carpet cleaner. Then he has his kids eat some candy bars and wipe their hands on the seats. Voila! A Belgian upholstery cleaner can also put dinner on the table.

Ray: And, of course, you can see how the thoughtful American -- looking at it this way -- sees the use of the ashtray as taking food out of some poor laborer's mouth. So the thoughtful American intentionally closes the ashtray and takes the time and trouble to scatter his ashes over various parts of the car.

Tom: As you say, you can often replace an engine in less time than it takes to clean out a car driven by an American. So we have succeeded masterfully!

Ray: And now that you understand the true nature of this international humanitarian effort, David, I'm sure you would want me to extend my sincere gratitude to the American people on your behalf. Consider it done, David!

What is the most cost-effective way to buy a car? Tom and Ray hash it all out in their pamphlet "Should I Buy, Lease, or Steal My Next Car?" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 2000 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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