While cable pundits and newspaper eggheads debate whether we’re technically in a recession, there’s an easier way to decide the issue. It’s called the Wal-Mart Theft Index.The nation’s largest employer and retailer is a bellwether for many things, but theft may be its greatest contribution. Due to the sheer size of its stores – coupled with chronic short-staffing and no security staff – Wal-Mart tends to be ground-zero for shoplifting.
The evidence comes from the discarded packaging found in the deeper reaches of the stores. In normal times, shoplifters will grab CDs, DVDs, and smaller electronics items, strip them of packaging in the quieter aisles, then walk through security scanners undetected.
But over the past few months, workers are discovering that even thieves are having a hard go of it during this wretched economy. “Now I’m finding lots of things like food, diapers, tampons, over-the-counter pharmacy stuff like kid’s cough medicine and insulin,” says one employee. “They still steal all of the other stuff, but I’m seeing more necessity items these days. Today I found that someone stole a queen-sized electric blanket and a package of condoms. Now I have the peace of mind knowing that our customers won’t get cold while they’re having protected sex.”
Which begs the question: Should Congress consider a stimulus package for shoplifters?
In the early 70’s books like the one above, were written to teach people how to live on the dole. I stole my first copy in 1973.
Which begs the question: Should Congress consider a stimulus package for shoplifters?
Why stop with the criminals they already bailed out?
Interesting story, but from a practical standpoint you could only justify this by comparing it to the morale of Wal-Mart employees. Low morale among employees would more directly lead to shoplifting (because they wouldn’t try as hard to stop it) than need.
Also, they’re only finding out what’s taken during inventory, not when they pick up trash (Wal-Mart and clean don’t go in the same sentence). These odd items could just as easily be missed during checkout as they could be taken.
Here’s the real question: Is Wal-Mart behind this story in some way? If not, who put this out there, and what do they get out of it?
What I see as an indication is all the ads and places advertising to buy peoples jewelry for cash. I’ve am now seeing this is wealthy neighborhoods too.
Why bother? If you can drag your lazy ass to the polls and vote Obamination/liberal, you can legally biopsy other peoples wallets from the comfort of your own cave. Okay, let’s call it a ‘tax credit’ (lol) just to make those voters feel even better about themselves. Honestly, there’s a little work involved – you have to figure out those confounded touch screens/ punch cards/pencil dot thingamajigs, but after that you can settle in with your carton of cigarettes, six-pack and remote while those other fools go out and work for a living at an ever-escalating tax rate. Ain’t life grand?
This is about being hungry enough to steal….not about entitlement. Ever been there?
#3 – Hannah
>>Okay, let’s call it a ‘tax credit’ (lol)
Lol. No, let’s call it a “bailout”. Lol. You know, what the Repubs have been proposing to insure that their own personal Jacuzzis won’t have to be unheated?
Har!!
#5 – Wayne
>>This is about being hungry enough to
>>steal….not about entitlement. Ever been
>>there?
No, no Repugs have never been there. If they knew what it was like to be on the brink of starvation, they would not be Repugs. Many of us who now live a comfortable life have been there, and that’s why we don’t vote for risky business guys like MadMan McBush, or $150,000.00K wardrobe ladies like Sarah-kins.
I think Mooseturd and Paddy-O are the same person….just messing with us. I can prove it. I’ve hacked the dvorak.org i.p. address log
[Uh, no….you haven’t, but we do know you – ed.]
#7 – Hannah [Eds.]
Heh heh.
Your bullshit has been called, Hannah.
Can we ever take you seriously again? Or are you just a pathetic joke?
#8 Wait! I was about to post the EXACT same thing. 😉
Me and my family back as far as we can trace (1400’s England thru Canada to USA) have never been poor.
I support strong broad social safety nets because I have traveled, read a few books, and recognize my good luck.
Anti-social to be otherwise.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT…
Basic concept goes like this..
REGULAR theft, is ALWAYS THERE. Its the druggies and those that need cash.
FOOD/basics theft, comes around when SOMEONE is hungry.
You have to remember that MOST stolen items only get about 1/2 there value…and a $10 steak, is $5, Stealing a $100 car stereo gets you $50, and dont DRIP BLOOD..
#8
Mooseturd – it was a joke, little poochkin. Sort of a ‘collision of opposites’ kind of humor. Paddy’O got it at least.
Not to belittle those who are hungy, but it is really damn hard to starve to death in the U.S.A., unless you are mentally ill/enfeebled. I lived for 3 years out of the Q.F.C Foods dumpsters in Seattle and lived quite well, actually. They would throw out enormous quantities of perfectly usable food, e.g. canned food with torn labels, 2-day-old bread, crates of fruit with minimal cosmetic damage, and so on. I would also detour through a large hotel on the way to school with a backpack and tupperware, walk up to the top floor like I belonged there and scrounge the hallways for room-service food that people had discarded. I could get milk and juice cartons, packaged items, etc. that were clean. I didn’t have two pennies to rub together in grad school and really never went hungry. All it took was a slight effort and I did not steal – I took what others had rejected and in the U.S.A., that’s still pretty good pickings.
#13 God – So, God, what made you go to the dark side? Was it that boy of yours. You know, I heard he has a persecution complex. Hangin’ out with that gang that call themselves ‘The Apostles’ and all.
A safety net would be fine if a large portion of those that made use of it didn’t consider it a bed.
A true safety net would be much like personal bankruptcy. You only get to use it every seven years.
I saw a bunch of really huge women in Wal-Mart that looked like they stuffed cottage cheese down the back or their pants. Apparently no one wanted to search them.
#14
That got all blown out of proportion, it was a little wine-tasting gone bad. Good thing they didn’t have motorcycles back then.
#17 God – “Wine-tasting gone bad.”? I heard he got busted for making wine without a permit.
His step dad was cited for building without permits. He had no chance at all.
Who the hell needs a bike when you can walk on water?
13,
and in MOSt major cities its against the Law to raid dumpsters..NOW..
#1,
Did the thorazene wear off?
You guys are supporting my plan for creating a nationwide Alaska PFD plan by your ranting. Thanks… I think.
Let’s move on to a more important issue: Educating the hungry on the best places to steal food. Stealing food from Wal-Mart is sad.
#13. Damn, you would think you could just conjure something up. Like loaves and fishies.
#23 – Yeah no shit, maybe even turn some water into wine. Just keep the fuck away from swimming pools.
While the government (us!) is bailing out big banks. Maybe they/we should also bailout these retail stores’ losses. Because there mostly the direct cause of the Feds screwed up ideas of high finance. There’s going to be tens of thousands of people out of jobs real soon. People with families. Maybe even a hundred thousand or more. Expect the shoplifting to start ramping up. And sadly a lot of desperate people are going to get nabbed for these petty thefts. While the super criminal of Wall Street, who stole billions, will get off scott free. And if not, Bush will pardon them.
Maybe we should put all the US congressmen and senators paychecks on hold, for doing such a lousy job this past year. And they’ll get paid once things significantly improve. That would light a fire under them like never before. I’m sure they’ve all got enough backup investments and lobbying dollars, to keep them from starving. But they sure as HELL shouldn’t get a pay raise right after this. Talk about the corporate CEOs getting golden parachute deals. It was Congress itself, that gave them the keys to the kitty, back in 2000, to do what was declared illegal after 1907. Betting on loan defaults.
# 21 Raff
Been there, done that…
Good luck to you.
(And to the rest of us…)
Looks like I win this thread, too.