Who is in charge? Part Two

Today's technology is advancing to help deter crime in our communities. The use of time delay safes, Sensormatic tags, video cameras, alarm systems, transmitter ID cards and other tracking devices help keep losses down for companies. But how much does all this cost? How much do you have to build up a business before you can afford these securities? You may not be able to afford to feed yourself in the early stages, much less pay for security equipment. In the criminal's eye, you are a much easier target. But you have much more to lose than the bank and the large corporations that build up around them.

Walk into your local bank and take a look around. Cameras are everywhere. Each teller is covered by its own camera. The vault is usually on a time delay and closed with a massive door. Around the door is sometimes another barrier, usually bulletproof glass with a door on one side. The front door of the bank can be opened after hours with your ATM card to allow you into the lobby to use the ATM. That same mechanism can be controlled from behind the counter and in certain offices within the bank. All this to protect the money the bank deals with every day.

Now walk into your locally owned convenience store. Usually you may find a camera behind the counter. (It isn't always so nor was it common ten years ago.) But you won't find a lot of money invested in the security systems. Even a locally owned liquor store seems all too vulnerable. Why do you suppose it is such a cliche for low-life criminals to rob these stores? The stores aren't making a ton of cash as it is, and yet they are the most susceptible to a quick robbery. Even shoplifting is not very hard to do in stores such as these. The clerk(s) usually don't have time to monitor all activity in the store when there are more than 3-4 customers. A camera is no good unless you catch the thief with product on their person.

As long as we continue to support this way of life, the little man will always have a hard time. We are encouraging people to prey on the weakest, while the weakest are the infrastructure of a solid economy. The little guy is working hard, trying to survive while also cultivating a personal relationship with the community around it. The little guy can not afford to cut too many corners because his customers seehim face to face. He can't blame the guys upstairs for his misfortune. He has to deal with unhappy customers who could get their product from a large chain store for less money. Those customers are the same that will complain about shoddy workmanship, poor customer service and a lack of accountability.

It's just another way we have been pitted against each other at the whim of the bankers in this country. Obviously the bankers run this country (Insurance companies are banks with special rules.) and they have the legislature at their disposal to keep things favorable for them. A campaign donation here, a bribe there and the next thing you know, we've got a law protecting their right to foreclose on a loan to a family who is going through some temporary hard times. Then a law that makes automobile insurance mandatory.

We cannot afford (no pun intended) to let this go on. It is leading us to ruin, and when it hits cataclysmic proportions you're going to wonder what happened. The church will tell you it's judgement day, the government will declare martial law, and only the criminals will feel safe on the streets. Unless we stop this now. A common answer I get to this is, "So how do we stop this?" Well, I have some answers, but first you must see our present condition and the horrors it instills upon the world. Then we can move on. First cry, then crawl, then walk, then run. Let's just hope we're running towards freedom and away from evil