Well I guess it's apparent that I'm serious about buying a new truck. It's legroom, a back seat, side curtain airbags, bed track liner system, and a rear view camera that won me over. Plus it's red, a manual 5-speed and a 2010. I'm more anxious every day that I'll have the money to pay for it. I don't think it's a problem, but I've got about a month of waiting before it arrives. I like the feeling of having something to work for. No kids, no mortgage (yet), not a lot of debt, and I already own a 2001 model, so I can save on insurance by making this one a recreational vehicle. I have to say that I didn't get a lot of encouragement initially from friends and family. That is until I reminded them that life is for the living and the points from two sentences back.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Big Red Taco
Well I guess it's apparent that I'm serious about buying a new truck. It's legroom, a back seat, side curtain airbags, bed track liner system, and a rear view camera that won me over. Plus it's red, a manual 5-speed and a 2010. I'm more anxious every day that I'll have the money to pay for it. I don't think it's a problem, but I've got about a month of waiting before it arrives. I like the feeling of having something to work for. No kids, no mortgage (yet), not a lot of debt, and I already own a 2001 model, so I can save on insurance by making this one a recreational vehicle. I have to say that I didn't get a lot of encouragement initially from friends and family. That is until I reminded them that life is for the living and the points from two sentences back.
Crime and Motivation
We elect politicians, who make laws and hire police to enforce them.
What is the motivation of the police, aside from a paycheck, to actually prevent crime? Sure, they can show up after the fact, clean up, take notes, and track the perpetrators. But by then there are victims and survivors and witnesses who all find their lives changed or ended and their attitudes toward the police diminished. Well, at least, that's what I've observed.
So what will it take to change the culture of the police. They are part of our community but we often view them as the last resort or kind of a buffer from those who would harm us. Moreover, they are a different class of citizen. We have high expectations of them but offer them relatively low pay and poor working conditions.
My first idea is to re-integrate the police into the whole community. In New Orleans, there are about 300,000 residents and close to 2,000 N.O.P.D. officers. That's one for every 1,500 residents. If we could streamline the amount of time they need to write reports through technology and other automation and move them from within cars to a more interactive role, then more of us would know more of them. Waiting until the crime has occurred is too late to build a trust bond between resident and officer of the law. Having a previous relationship is key in law enforcement. How many of us hesitate to involve police for not wanting to get involved and just hoping the prblem will go away. Having police officers that you trust with information that can save a life or protect property and prevent crime is a great resource for both the individual and our city.
Less laws, more enforcement of current laws, less division between police and residents, more individual involvement in reporting and witnessing and above all a District Attorney's office who will prosecute offenders instead of demoralizing police and communities by releasing criminals without trial. Make reporting easier for police, provide bonuses and pay increases for performance, and allow and require them to get to know the people they serve and protect.
What is the motivation of the police, aside from a paycheck, to actually prevent crime? Sure, they can show up after the fact, clean up, take notes, and track the perpetrators. But by then there are victims and survivors and witnesses who all find their lives changed or ended and their attitudes toward the police diminished. Well, at least, that's what I've observed.
So what will it take to change the culture of the police. They are part of our community but we often view them as the last resort or kind of a buffer from those who would harm us. Moreover, they are a different class of citizen. We have high expectations of them but offer them relatively low pay and poor working conditions.
My first idea is to re-integrate the police into the whole community. In New Orleans, there are about 300,000 residents and close to 2,000 N.O.P.D. officers. That's one for every 1,500 residents. If we could streamline the amount of time they need to write reports through technology and other automation and move them from within cars to a more interactive role, then more of us would know more of them. Waiting until the crime has occurred is too late to build a trust bond between resident and officer of the law. Having a previous relationship is key in law enforcement. How many of us hesitate to involve police for not wanting to get involved and just hoping the prblem will go away. Having police officers that you trust with information that can save a life or protect property and prevent crime is a great resource for both the individual and our city.
Less laws, more enforcement of current laws, less division between police and residents, more individual involvement in reporting and witnessing and above all a District Attorney's office who will prosecute offenders instead of demoralizing police and communities by releasing criminals without trial. Make reporting easier for police, provide bonuses and pay increases for performance, and allow and require them to get to know the people they serve and protect.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Piffed Off and Po.
One week's work = one week's pay. I work for a small business and sometimes money gets tight. The boss and payroll check writer is not communicative when we get into these places. Not getting paid on time is a real bummer. It causes stress, anger, anxiety, and generally makes me feel insecure about my job of fifteen years.
Don't get me wrong, I love where I work. My clients are some of the best people you will ever meet. The color, flavor, and diversity of their wishes are always refreshing. I am happy with them most of the time. It is our internal management that is unpredictable. It is seemingly impossible to plan very far into the future, both within the shop and consequently, in my personal life. Who would keep a job that left you without money for the weekend? I don't live check to check, but all of the pay I receive has been budgeted and any disruption brings my short term plans to a halt. It follows that upon returning to work after my "weekend", I have a hard time motivating to the point of excellence I expect of myself.
So, not being paid leads to a sort of depression. Even if my pay is provided three to five days late, it is demotivating. My time is all I have to sell and I feel like my time is being discounted. Feeling the need to search for a new job is a weird type in job insecurity. I don't want a different job, it's a knee-jerk reaction to this situation. I wish it would stop. The other employees ask me what they should do. We are all in it together and allowing the unknown to control your decisions is madness. And so the cycle continues until pay becomes regular again.
Sadness I define as love for something or someone that is not healthy for us or working out as promised. I consider pay the promise of work. Right now, this promise is being broken.
Don't get me wrong, I love where I work. My clients are some of the best people you will ever meet. The color, flavor, and diversity of their wishes are always refreshing. I am happy with them most of the time. It is our internal management that is unpredictable. It is seemingly impossible to plan very far into the future, both within the shop and consequently, in my personal life. Who would keep a job that left you without money for the weekend? I don't live check to check, but all of the pay I receive has been budgeted and any disruption brings my short term plans to a halt. It follows that upon returning to work after my "weekend", I have a hard time motivating to the point of excellence I expect of myself.
So, not being paid leads to a sort of depression. Even if my pay is provided three to five days late, it is demotivating. My time is all I have to sell and I feel like my time is being discounted. Feeling the need to search for a new job is a weird type in job insecurity. I don't want a different job, it's a knee-jerk reaction to this situation. I wish it would stop. The other employees ask me what they should do. We are all in it together and allowing the unknown to control your decisions is madness. And so the cycle continues until pay becomes regular again.
Sadness I define as love for something or someone that is not healthy for us or working out as promised. I consider pay the promise of work. Right now, this promise is being broken.
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