The problem with Marshall’s

And also with T.J. Maxx, Ross' and all the other name-brands-for-less discounters.

The problem is they make it more difficult to segregate the suckers.

We had a nice system going. The gullible, self-important and stupid had been convinced to advertise their membership in these categories through brand-name icons.

Consider the Polo logo — the little horse-and-rider symbol proudly worn on the left breast of the prodigal. You can easily find a well-made Oxford shirt for $20 or less. You can get a bona fide, Made-in-America by union workers, Oxford shirt for around $45. Or you can spend way more than that for the same style and quality shirt, except with a little horsey guy on it.

Seeing someone wearing such a shirt was a clear signal that here was a fellow who, with $60 or so in his pocket, couldn't think of anything better to do with that money than to "upgrade" to the shirt with the little horsey guy. "A fool and his money are soon parted," the logo proclaimed. "And I am such a fool."

This was a useful signal to the rest of us. It informed us that the wearer was not just selfish, but proudly so, and thus perhaps not due the usual deference paid to others as part of the give-and-take of human society. For those of a more entrepreneurial bent, the horsey guy also helped to distinguish an easy mark.

Marshall's has muddied the waters by selling these logo-emblazoned brand-name shirts for about the same price as the normal, not-for-suckers shirts. Thus now, when we see someone sporting these logos, we cannot be sure that they are a member of the frivolous spendthrift class or simply someone who found a cheap shirt at a discounter. (Although I still don't understand why, given the choice between two affordable shirts, you would choose the one with the advertisement on it.)

If there's a wasp in the room, I'd prefer to know where it is. Likewise, if we are to be surrounded by wealthy, gullible and self-absorbed people, I'd prefer to be able to keep track of them. Marshall's is making this more difficult.