Plumbing as a metaphor

Not so recently there have been technological developments for toilets that reduces water usage.

Some people have even suggested reducing the volume of water in the toilet tank by displacing it with bricks or other sealed containers of water. Less water is used when the toilet is flushed.

It seems like a great idea, doesn't it? You use less water and lower your water bills (if you are connected to an urban utility company as a water source). In Rural areas, you might reduce wear on the water pump.

Unfortunately, the rest of the sewer system was engineered based on the physical behavior of an older standard volume of water. That volume was much larger, based on the physical properties of the waste being flushed.

Now, have we reduced our waste to match the equivelent reduction of water usage when we flush our toilets? What are the consequences of such a disparity?

More clogs. More expensive plumbing service calls. Service calls that are far more expensive than the cost actually saved by reducing water usage at the toilet, instead of the entire system.

*** The Metaphor ***

The plumbing as a metaphor shows us how short-sighted we are, but it also shows us how certain people or groups use our short-sightedness to their advantage.

• What other examples can you find of short-sightedness that self-defeats a good idea?