More Americans are shoplifting food • Hacker News Board

Re: More Americans are shoplifting food

#21

Post by dmoy » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 11:48 PM UTC

dheera wrote: post #4

underseacables wrote: post #3

Many people are starving because they are locked down and not able to work, but I think that the grocery self scan that so many stores are moving towards, enables food theft; or at the very least it makes it easier. It would be interesting to see exactly how much shrinkage occurs due to the self scan.

They also save a lot of money in cashier hourly labor. At least the ones that don't keep launching into "Please wait for assistance." mode every time you accidentally scan a fruit instead of entering its PLU code.

> At least the ones that don't keep launching into "Please wait for assistance." mode every time you accidentally scan a fruit instead of entering its PLU code.

or have something vaguely spherical roll off of the absurdly tiny flat space you're supposed to stack everything, with no walls

I swear I'm starting to buy big white vegetable cabbage instead of green cabbage now, just because it doesn't roll.

Re: More Americans are shoplifting food

#22

Post by givehimagun » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 11:48 PM UTC

As an American, I'm furious that we (American people) failed these people. I want to help - I've been blessed with a great job and I want find a way to help these people. The food bank in my region is distributing 2x the food they did last year. The director of the site mentioned how important it is to find ways to reach those who are food insecure in dignified ways.

Find me more groups that want to/are helping with this problem - let's go help our fellow Americans.

Re: More Americans are shoplifting food

#23

Post by sanguy » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 11:49 PM UTC

When we have politicians endorsing to defund the police, riot, and use violence and terror to get their way what do we expect?

Stealing is now perfectly acceptable as it's just distribution of wealth.

Re: More Americans are shoplifting food

#24

Post by sjg007 » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 11:50 PM UTC

swiley wrote: post #14

The US is probably inches away from a serious catastrophy caused be the extreme inequality that's only gotten worse this year. Inequality is one thing, but when you're forced out on to the street to starve to death and there's nothing you can do to improve your situation that's totally different.

It’s the pandemic that is tripping the scale and Congress refusing to do anything.

Re: More Americans are shoplifting food

#25

Post by suby » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 11:51 PM UTC

sanguy wrote: post #23

When we have politicians endorsing to defund the police, riot, and use violence and terror to get their way what do we expect? Stealing is now perfectly acceptable as it's just distribution of wealth.

You're misdiagnosing the problem. The problem isn't that the police are less able to do their job and thus more people are able to get away with stealing food. The problem is that people are not able to afford food.

Re: More Americans are shoplifting food

#26

Post by givehimagun » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 11:51 PM UTC

sanguy wrote: post #23

When we have politicians endorsing to defund the police, riot, and use violence and terror to get their way what do we expect? Stealing is now perfectly acceptable as it's just distribution of wealth.

I don't understand your position. Are you upset at politicians or the community that was okay with letting people starve?

Re: More Americans are shoplifting food

#27

Post by matz1 » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 11:52 PM UTC

Thats what you get when business are being shutdown / not allowed to open at their full capacity.

Re: More Americans are shoplifting food

#28

Post by RangerScience » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 11:52 PM UTC

sjg007 wrote: post #24

swiley wrote: post #14

The US is probably inches away from a serious catastrophy caused be the extreme inequality that's only gotten worse this year. Inequality is one thing, but when you're forced out on to the street to starve to death and there's nothing you can do to improve your situation that's totally different.

It’s the pandemic that is tripping the scale and Congress refusing to do anything.

> Congress refusing to do anything.

Senate. House has passed stimulus packages. IMO further delineation is deserved, but contentious, so I'll leave it at that.

Re: More Americans are shoplifting food

#29

Post by lightgreen » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 11:52 PM UTC

swiley wrote: post #14

The US is probably inches away from a serious catastrophy caused be the extreme inequality that's only gotten worse this year. Inequality is one thing, but when you're forced out on to the street to starve to death and there's nothing you can do to improve your situation that's totally different.

Nobody is starving to death in the US. Food stamps and food bank help with that.

The situation may be bad, but not as dramatic as you paint it.

Re: More Americans are shoplifting food

#30

Post by FnControlOption » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 11:52 PM UTC

sjg007 wrote: post #24

swiley wrote: post #14

The US is probably inches away from a serious catastrophy caused be the extreme inequality that's only gotten worse this year. Inequality is one thing, but when you're forced out on to the street to starve to death and there's nothing you can do to improve your situation that's totally different.

It’s the pandemic that is tripping the scale and Congress refusing to do anything.

It’s scary that civil unrest might be exactly what the Republican party wants.