The economy was not doing well, soldiers were coming home with horrible PTSD and after-shock, the great depression was going on, etc. :)
There are too many citizens for each of their interests, ideas and opinions to be heard and taken into account one by one. a representative can take the majority vote of the people and refer it back to the higher power.
What Marie should primarily consider if she decides to purchase a car of not using rational decision making is the marginal benefits and costs of her decision. So if she is thinking of buying of car, she should consider how much she would spend and what would be the benefits she can get in having a car.
