Why do they mess with something that works fine

in my cart page im setting a cookie

VB Code:
  1. Dim cookie As HttpCookie = New HttpCookie("CartCookie")

  2.             cookie.Value = Request.Cookies("CartCookie").Value + 1

  3.             cookie.Expires = Date.Today.AddDays(14)

i have a control for left panel and if cookie has value greater than 0 then i display a section of code

but it dosnt work

VB Code:
  1. Dim cookie As HttpCookie = New HttpCookie("CartCookie")

  2.             cookie.Value = Request.Cookies("CartCookie").Value

  3.  
  4.             If cookie.Value > 0 Then 

  5.                 Me.CartPanel.Visible = True

  6.                 CartCount = Request.Cookies("CartCookie").Value 'cookie.Item("CartCookie") 

  7.             End If