Desperado Day

Neighborhood break ins are happening all up and down the block right now. Recently, one guy was caught, but we've no idea if that will make things any better.

Like many others reading this, I am no stranger to burglaries. The New York apartment I lived in when I was in my 20s was broken into multiple times and money or valuables always stolen. When I moved here to MN, someone stole a bike out of the garage where I first lived. 

There was also a burglar who broke into our garage and tried to steal my car radio. He couldn't, so he took my chewing gum instead. I think he was pretty young, but that's only a guess and I can't say for sure.

This whole thing is reminding me of the words on posters in old Westerns: Desperado. When we are desperate we do desperate things. 

I think about how hard it is to find work and living wages. How hard I've had to struggle myself at times to get them and how I have felt desperate, too, though never stealing from anyone.

At the same time, I see politicians like Andrew Yang recommending minimum payments of $1,000 a month to everyone who needs it in the U. S. I think of all the money we spend on space programs and stuff, and think we could afford it if we took a little from there and taxed the one percent.

Would that make a difference? Or would some people keep stealing?

Note to self: There are more questions than you can answer right now, but you need to keep asking them.

Burglary sign: Mark Turnauckas