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Posted by David Sherman [72.47.9.228] on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 19:34:10 :
In Reply to: Re: Just missed 'em! posted by Jerry in Idaho [64.139.238.43] on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 19:20:58 :
I don't believe unemployment has anything to do with the thievery. Around here, at least, anyone who can operate a shovel or a broom for 8 hours straight can make $80. The thing with the druggies is they're always working on a "scheme" an "angle" -- some way to get something for nothing. The tweakers stay up all night scheming on this sort of thing. The hourly income that a doper nets for stealing batteries and hauling them to a scrap yard is way less than he'd make doing honest work, but they just refuse to do honest work. The mines here are actively hiring, every trade from muckers and laborers to miners and electricians. AVERAGE pay at Hecla is $70,000/yr plus $30,000 in benefits (medical, dental, defined-benefit pension, and 401k) No college degree required. Just the ability to show up and WORK.
Right now a guy with a strong back and a double-digit IQ could walk around town with a rake and make $10/hr raking leaves for all the old people. In another month, he could make at least that much shoveling their snow. He'd get paid cash and it wouldn't even matter if he went home and got stoned at the end of the day.
Instead, he steals $400 worth of batteries from me to sell for $15 at the scrap yard. If the guy wants lead that bad, I'd be happy to give him some. Round nose, hollow point, or 00 buck.
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