Times truly are "getting hard"

[Worf101]

I've lived through several major recessions and have looked both up at and down on the various recoveries. I've been poor and broke and grew up as a child of the working poor. Folks are debating here in the States as to whether or not we're in a "recession". They key this to consecutive quarters of negative economic growth.

My measurents don't involve numbers but what I see. I currently work in utility regulation. I recently had to requisition flash resistant clothing and gear because THE THEFT OF COPPER GROUNDING WIRE HAS RENDERED MANY SUBSTATIONS AND UTILITY POLES UNSAFE!!!!!

There's enough induced voltage to fry my guys should they lean against a chain link fence (assuming that the fence hasn't been stolen). If that weren't bad enough, people have begun breaking into substations and yards and stealing every bit of metal not bolted down. Wire trucks have stolen, some hijacked at gun point and all manner of mayhem is taking place.

My son, who turned 15 in June has enough on his mind and plate without having to now worry about getting the chit shocked out of him because some bozo stole all the ground wires on the electric lines in the neighborhood.... sigh.

Da "worried and saddened" Worfster

[GMichael]

Numerically, we haven't hit a recession yet. We need to be at 0% for 3 months. We've been at 0.01%. Close enough for me though. As much as I see others driving SUV's and spending money like it's made of weeds, there are plenty of people tightening their belts. And more people are bending, if not braking the rules to make a little extra. I see it getting worse before it gets better.

Don't lean on the fences.

[kexodusc]

Hey Worf, not sure if the downturn in the economy has as much to do with the copper thieving as the price of copper tripling in the past 10 years has...
That's some serious coin available quick and easy to the masses of criminals and desperate poor folk that exist in society at any level of prosperity.

I never thougth they'd be stealing enough ground wires to make it unsafe. Geez. Wonder how many dumb criminals have turned into fried chicken trying to make a quick buck?

[Woochifer]

I think it's probably a little bit of both. Copper prices have zoomed upwards, but it's also fact that crime rates tend to go up during economic downturns.

Around here, I know that copper thefts from construction sites out here have been on the rise for a few years. It's not just the wiring, but the pipes as well. With the severe downturn in the housing market, a lot of unfinished housing sites have been abandoned, leaving a totally open house for thieves.

I've also heard of thieves targeting neighborhoods with a lot of foreclosures. They'll target those houses once the owners get evicted, and basically ransack the place for any resellable building materials.

With this economy, I guess if not for the abundance of foreclosed and abandoned properties out here, then these lowlifes might be targeting the utility stations as well.

[bobsticks]

So, if drugs were legalized we'd have cops forming a task force to stake out construction sites...

[RoyY51]

I work for Home Depot, and theft is now off the scale. Thieves will load up a flat cart with as much copper wire as they can push and make a beeline for the door. And, unless they run into something, they're home free. They are obviously aware of H.D. policy: they haven't stolen anything until they get outside, and once they're outside, WE CAN'T TOUCH THEM! It's worth your job if you try. We might as well post a big sign out in front: "Welcome Thieves!" Pretty soon we'll be asking "would you like a bigger cart?' or "can I help you to your car?"

I understand the reasoning behind this corporate mindset, but as a stockholder and an ethical human being, it still pisses me off. Maybe Singapore has the right idea after all.

[Auricauricle]

Re Kex: So we gather 'em up and tell 'em they're grounded??

[bobsticks]

Re Kex: So we gather 'em up and tell 'em they're grounded??

Wow. That's really bad.

[GMichael]

Wow. That's really bad.

I liked it.

This guy shows potential.

[3-LockBox]

I dunno, copper thefts have been on the rise for at least 5 years now. No, its not as expensive as gold or silver, but copper is very, very common and prevelant in so many uses...its everywhere. I'd like to think that all theft was related to people just trying to get by during tough times, but I doubt it. Its a quick buck and a quick fix. The common usage of copper around construction sites and around the home makes for a convenient 'grab and go' scenario that appeals to substance abusers who are addicted to everything but work.

I think drug abuse is off the charts these days. I can't walk into a drug store and buy Benedryl off the shelf, I have to ask for it, and I can only buy so much...they have to keep it behind the shelves to keep people (mainly kids) from shop lifting it. Seems that ODing on it can get you high, or so I'm told.

[Auricauricle]

I liked it.

This guy shows potential.

Thank you, GM (Good one, BTW...)!

Don't give me any static, 'Sticks!

[ForeverAutumn]

I think drug abuse is off the charts these days. I can't walk into a drug store and buy Benedryl off the shelf, I have to ask for it, and I can only buy so much...they have to keep it behind the shelves to keep people (mainly kids) from shop lifting it. Seems that ODing on it can get you high, or so I'm told.

I never understood that. All that Benedryl does for me is put me to sleep.

I never realized that copper was so valuable. And that Home Depot policy is just silly.

My local health food store has rearranged the store to put all of the vitamins and supplements in one aisle and has hired a full-time security guard who stands and guards just that one aisle.

[Auricauricle]

Unfortunately, Benadryl can be and is abused. From what I understand, the high is rather unpleasant, and side effects are pretty nasty.

As they say, "When there's a way, there's a will...."

Or some such!

[GMichael]

I never understood that. All that Benedryl does for me is put me to sleep.

I never realized that copper was so valuable. And that Home Depot policy is just silly.

My local health food store has rearranged the store to put all of the vitamins and supplements in one aisle and has hired a full-time security guard who stands and guards just that one aisle.

I still remember when they stopped making pennies out of copper. The story I heard was that the amount of copper it took to make a penny was worth more than 1 cent. So people were melting them down.

[Ajani]

I liked it.

This guy shows potential.

Potential he may have... but that was still really bad....

[bobsticks]

Thank you, GM (Good one, BTW...)!

Don't give me any static, 'Sticks!

Bring watchu got, headshrinkaman...

[Auricauricle]

Feelin' scratchy, 'Sticks?

I gotta can right here...

[GMichael]

You guys behave or I'm tellin' JM on ya.

[bobsticks]

I think drug abuse is off the charts these days. I can't walk into a drug store and buy Benedryl off the shelf, I have to ask for it, and I can only buy so much...they have to keep it behind the shelves to keep people (mainly kids) from shop lifting it. Seems that ODing on it can get you high, or so I'm told.

In the midwest it's actually not the kids but a seemingly never-ending line of middle-aged women. Not so much the Beney but the Meth dealio about which I'm sure you've all read. They're easy to pick out--wiegh about 79 pounds with a mouthful of disintegrating teeth--lovely.

And that Home Depot policy is just silly.

Yup. Welcome to the U.S., where the criminals have more rights than the victims. The amount of money lost on wrongful detainment and defamement/vilification suits dwarfs the petty theft, at least in the minds of the bizoids. Won't ever change.

[Auricauricle]

And the scourge creeps eastward toward the sea....

We are seeing increasing numbers of the sheepdip, here. It's prevalent in the northeastern cormer of the state, but is making inroads here on the coast, where crack and beer are the coctails of choice....

Ain't it all jus' lovely?

This is no joke. Anyone tempted should look before they leap...

http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/DrugI...s/photo_8.html

[Worf101]

And what saddens me is that it appears it's only gonna get worse before it gets better. I've no sympathy for professional thieves but I know too many honest, jobless hard working people who are inches away from losing all. I've an ex-GF who's inches away from losing house and car, I've hired her to clean and do laundry just to tied her over.... I offered months ago and at first she was insulted, then she demurred, finally she approached me and asked if the offer still stood.

She said, "I've been flush and I've been poor, but I've never been homeless."

Da Worfster

[Auricauricle]

I think you're right, Worfster....The deficit's boundaries are well beyond stratospheric and with everyone tightening their belts and keeping their wallets thin, we'rer going to see societal and economic divisions along strange and unexpected lines.

And I don't think this was inevitable. We are reaping a harvest that was sown many a year ago. Politically, socially, economically, etc., we pretty much proceeded as though we had no reason to consider our future. The "bad guys" were "over there", and corruption (name the place) was effectively dealt with in trotting out the occasional scapegoat or a megamovie that placated the masses for a little while longer....

I am excited that, at least on the surface, we are seeing a swelling of sentiment that would like to see things change. The fact that Obama has been given such a run (I never would have thought a African American would be pres in my lifetime) indicates something's afoot.

It may be a long time before the dust settles, but at least we're taking a good look at the road ahead....

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

I think you're right, Worfster....The deficit's boundaries are well beyond stratospheric and with everyone tightening their belts and keeping their wallets thin, we'rer going to see societal and economic divisions along strange and unexpected lines.

No don't say that! Does this mean that Pix and I are going to find ourselves on the same side? Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.....I would rather be dead

And I don't think this was inevitable. We are reaping a harvest that was sown many a year ago. Politically, socially, economically, etc., we pretty much proceeded as though we had no reason to consider our future. The "bad guys" were "over there", and corruption (name the place) was effectively dealt with in trotting out the occasional scapegoat or a megamovie that placated the masses for a little while longer....

I have said this over and over again. America's appetitite for cheap low quality goods has killed its own manufacturing base. And because China is our new factory, and our new loan company, there is nothing we can say to them about anything, not even their human rights issues. If they decided to discontinue financing our debt, America as we know it would no longer exist. I think Madison Avenue has done a terrific job of encouraging the brainless American masses to consume, and consume some more as to take our eyes and attention off the fact that our government is selling us out by the six pack.

I am excited that, at least on the surface, we are seeing a swelling of sentiment that would like to see things change. The fact that Obama has been given such a run (I never would have thought a African American would be pres in my lifetime) indicates something's afoot.

It may be a long time before the dust settles, but at least we're taking a good look at the road ahead....

I hope you are right, we have a really bad fear of change, and another bad habit of voting in people who enjoy working hard for the rich and powerful.

[Auricauricle]

...So you got me up and over to the collection to search out Roger Waters...

and I found this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s9ubMQX7WE

[bobsticks]

...So you got me up and over to the collection to search out Roger Waters...

and I found this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s9ubMQX7WE

Hhhmmmn, that didn't look like th eRoger Waters with which I'm familiar.

Are you acquainted with "Ca Ira", Waters' double disc on the French Revolution? There are some similarities and while the times change, the times stay the same if ya know what I mean...

Sometimes I feel like the Fed is tellin' us to eat cake.