Oh that is so funny because it's true! I had friends in the 80's who worked for grocery stores bagging and collecting carts, even helping people to their cars with the groceries. What a difference it is today. Self check out and you are on your own. Personally I would be embarrassed to not return a cart because that is what I was taught to do from the time I was a kid.

I never really thought about shopping in England, but you're right. People are much more courteous. Here in the US it seems like it's every man for himself, especially when looking for parking spaces in any big city. Common courtesy has disappeared over the last thirty years in the US, and you're cart example is a perfect example of it. If even one more person returns their cart after reading this post you have a made a difference. If you could only get this published on front page of a major newspaper, if only they still existed too...