Broken Glass

12/12/2011

I just returned from my local CVS Pharmacy where I needed to pick up an Rx for my son. The doors were boarded up with wood - not to keep patrons out, but because others let themselves in - at 3 am.

The store manager was there mopping up after the early morning break in. He looked exhausted and his Monday was off to a pretty shitty start.

"They" took things, meaning drug store items (all the ibuprofen you can eat!) and holiday decorations. Of course they fled before the police could arrive.

My first thought, after knowing no store employees were hurt, was how overwhelming it must feel to experience such need. But need for what? Aspirin? Nutcrackers for their kids because they couldn't afford nice presents? Or because the resale value on the street is high for wooden soldiers? I don't mean to sound facetious. But I think of the phrase: "helpless people have a way of controlling everyone around them." So, the perps break in and so many others have to account for and clean up their mess.

But need is real. And ever so evident right now. Oakland Local is once again live blogging the Port of Oakland work stoppage this morning. I am torn in my feelings about this. The soundbites from the truckers who will loose pay because they can't work bother me. A lot. My husband and I go round and round on the merits of some of these actions. Does a movement and its voices have to be coherent right out of the gate in order to garner momentum? Evidently not. But how about respect or growing cohesion?

It's grey and cold here in the Bay Area today. There is need everywhere and its never felt more acutely than during this three month trifecta of too much food, thanks and gifts.

But my thoughts keep turning to the nice manager of our local CVS. The look on his face and the exhaustion in his eyes. I need to mull this over. What are your thoughts on this?

Ottoline

12/12/2011 02:12:36 am

Violence and theft are bad. Sad. But we should not overthink this. Crime and bad people are always with us, esp in war-like situations (OWS has and will have its share, but that doesn't corrupt the movement unless it takes over). Be glad that only "stuff" was taken, broken. Just like with the Sandusky case, the actual perp must be addressed, but the real issue is what does society routinely do to manage the inevitable spoilers in a society. In the Penn State case, we see that the answer is "too little." Way too little. And that seems typical for other institutions. THAT's the real problem. A giant one. IMO.

The pharmacy owner has every right to feel bad, tired. I would hope his neighbors would gather round, help him sweep up, perhaps kick in some money if he was not insured AND really needs it. And give him a collective hug. And life goes on. With, we can hope, some way to take some steps to deal with whatever gave the perps the idea to do this.

V-A

12/12/2011 02:15:07 am

I have such mixed feelings about this, Laura. First off, I ABHORE CVS. It truly disgusts me when I must patronize it. The employees are overworked. The store is a catchall of junk arranged in a chaos of disorder and uselessness. (I think of the woman in CVS yesterday who just kept throwing things onto the conveyor belt as she checked out. Grabbing shit from displays all around her.)And of course, CVS exists as a handmaiden to BigPharma and is almost a monopoly now. There are TWO CVS's in the strip mall a mile from my house.

One of the happiest things about our new HMO (insurance! after a year of none!) is that they have their own pharmacy. The drugs are cheaper, and the service is better. I stand in line there, and it registers that I am PURCHASING A DRUG. Not: checking out with a hodgepodge of shampoo, razors, christmas lights and oh, um, Keflex.

Revolution (and crime) are not polite. They disrupt what they disrupt-- because they are acts of compelling acts of storytelling. If something must be hit, I prefer CVS to the corner store.

Am I sorry for the poor woman who must clean it up? Am I sorry for people who must work jobs of dispirited meaninglessness to support themselves and families?

God, yes! And every time I must patronize a CVS and a harried older man or woman checks me out, I bless them since they remind me how fragile life is.

(The younger rude checkout people, I never bless which makes me not a bit like Jesus.)

12/12/2011 02:43:06 am

My guess is the criminals intended to get "real" drugs from a drug store and were surprised to find everything secured beyond their ability to break in. So instead they took trivial stuff they could get, in part for revenge and in part not to leave empty-handed.

They or a relative can sell the ibuprofen and nutcrackers at a yard sale. I've heard stores like Target lose little stuff to employees, who then sell it for a little money. If they take and sell big stuff, they'll get caught.

Kinsey Milhone's newest adventure involves re-selling of shoplifted goods. It made me wonder where some of the stuff at my favorite non-charity thrift stores really comes from.

Pogo

12/12/2011 03:59:22 am

As for the protesters closing the ports. I too have mixed feelings. They want to send a message to big corporations,and I guess a message about imports and trade imbalances. But the way thay have chosen hurts working Americans, costing them a day's pay. Not a good idea. There must be a better way to express this message. Still, I support the Occupy movement. Just not this specific tactic.

eclecticsandra

12/12/2011 04:35:17 am

The OWS movement has achieved some momentum. For a group without leaders, this port stoppage seems to be well coordinated.

There are bound to be some incidents that undermine the purpose of the protests. People with other agendas will try to shift the actions.

I hope that all those participating will stop to think about what their actions mean. When a union makes a decision for the individual, this seems to violate the individual's rights. Did the Longshoremen in Oakland vote on this as they would a strike? What I saw on TV about the Portland situation was the decision to work was from the top, not the rank and file.

This is an important time to raise awareness, and perhaps we need that "fire in the belly" to continue into the voting process.

It is a puzzlement.

LisaB2595

12/12/2011 04:38:42 am

I agree with B, that the criminals were probably hoping for narcotics.

I was in Oakland, visiting my BFF for our annual trek to BABE. I saw Occupy Oakland--from a distance--on our way to the convention center. My friend, who like you, Laura, is a journalist, was simply livid about it. "This poor town (Oakland) is hanging by a thread, and it does not need people camping out in front of city hall and closing ports. This will not bring companies to your city. It chases them away."

Indeed, some businesses that were open downtown last year were closed this year. Fortunately our little Italian deli where we buy our lunch was still there, but the racks for salami were all bare. Hopefully, they sold it all early, and are awaiting delivery of more, but I fear next year's lunch won't be there.

I support the movement's ideals, but this tactic is misguided.

Laura Novak

12/12/2011 04:44:36 am

Beautifully put everyone. V-A, you have an HMO with its OWN pharmacy? How wonderful is that? Except for the fact that when my son got very sick in another state, their CVS had his info in a nano-second. No fuss, no muss? What must we trade off in order to get the best scenario?

I too support the movement in theory and in spirit. But yes, Lisa B, just when Oakland is developing some cache as a destination (there is a there there) for all things cultural, this happens. It IS still filthy in front of City Hall, and now flooded with water so they won't return. Breaking down fences of private property is not the answer either. I'm not sure what is. The truth is that those in glass towers are not hurt by these stones that are being thrown. It's the truck drivers and the small merchants who are. And yet I truly applaud civic action and sympathize with anyone who is SO downtrodden, they must take drastic action.

I don't have a good answer or an articulate argument. I just keep mulling it all over. So thank you all for putting better words to this subject.

eclecticsandra

12/12/2011 04:51:43 am

On the prescription front, I have been insured by Kaiser Permanente for many years. They have their own pharmacies, and I can order refills on line or by phone. These are mailed to my home.

I like the idea that the formulary is not determined by a busy doctor who shouldn't have to deal with pharmaceutical reps all day. No free pens, but the health service is able to control costs.

Ottoline

12/12/2011 04:52:37 am

V-A, you mentioned the tiny tents some time ago. This made me think about making tents in an origami fashion. And then attaching them to some central thing in any city, workplace, neighborhood. Sort of like the cranes the Japanese do. For people like me who want to support it but don't know how. Perhaps some group would aggregate or at least count such an outpouring of support. Or a "send a dollar to OWS" program, which would also serve to build OWS a contact list, if people put return addresses on. I don't know. It's still evolving (I hope).

FrostyAK

12/12/2011 06:04:22 am

I worked for CVS on the East Coast MANY long years ago. They were screwing their employees over then as well. I was fired when I reported their malfeasance to the labor board, upon request from said labor board. CVS is a great personification of what's wrong with this country.

The time has come for people to sort out the difference between need and want. The current generations of parents had no incentive to do that as all was plentiful then. So now their kids don't have that concept.

Those who are in NEED have no homes, no heat, no food, and often no love. The basics of life are NEED, the rest is trimming. I think the time has come for the entire country/world to sort out need from want. Maybe time for Robin Hood to reappear?

I support OWS, though I have no illusion that it will change things. The powerful have gotten away with their crap for way too long, while the population slept... or the majority slept.

Marleycat link

12/12/2011 07:38:43 am

V-A

12/12/2011 07:47:09 am

Here, here, FrostyAK!

Marleycat

12/12/2011 09:05:23 am

Sorry, folks, don't know what happened (above)! Great thoughtful comments.

It is possible that, based on the items taken, desperate need was the motivation. How many drug addicts are going to bother with ornaments? Ibuprofen? They'd have to sell quite a volume of these things to get enough funds to pay for the drugs to get high.

Desperate need generates desperate thoughts and plans that people may be forced into in order to survive. As one who struggles constantly to keep my house, the lights turned on, and fuel oil to stay warm - the kind of things you never would think of as "acceptable" ways to stay afloat start to seem more "reasonable" as the desperation increases.

I can honestly say I haven't ever thought of doing something like this, however, I have wondered sometimes if the reason for that is I haven't yet reached that level of desperation. I still have a few more assets and resources I can turn to for assistance - what happens when those are gone?

I used to have the luxury to believe that "I would NEVER" do this or that with somewhat smug confidence. What an education and self-realization true hardship has given me - and my understanding of what motivates human behavior has deepened immeasurably.

I say this having worked in Human Services and with people in desperate need for years. I know now my understanding of the depth of the endless desperation they endured was incredibly naive, and I hope to reach that level of emotional and mental stoicism they had to develop in order to continue on in life with some semblance of human dignity.

My comments are not advocating crime as an acceptable means to getting needs met - but crime committed by the poor is thoroughly and soundly punished, while crime for the haves is called free enterprise.

As far as pulling yourself up by the bootstraps, people in this situation have no boots. Everyone must take responsibility for our own lives, undeniably, but until each of us has equal access to the tools needed to do that - for as long as they are needed, we are all at risk of circumstances that could weaken or destroy that fantastical belief we have in forever having control over our lives.

Laura Novak

12/12/2011 10:39:33 am

Here her to V-A's here here to Frosty AK. Trenchant and so true, Frosty. and Marley Cat, I agree with all you say, especially your brilliant phrase: "the crime for the haves is called Free Enterprise." Yes indeed.

Desperation can overwhelm people. Especially at a time when everyone else seems to have so much. But what if it's anger that propels people to smash private property and steal meaningless things?

We know that now Sudafed is tightly locked up. So what else of real "recreational" value can be stolen from a story like CVS, which yes, indeed as V-A has pointed out is a hodge podge of crowded shelves and junk all over?

Either way, if it all rolls down hill, then the face I saw at the bottom of it this morning was a store manager who was called out of bed in the dark to go deal with the mess. And I felt for him b/c he didn't deserve that either.

Laura Novak

12/12/2011 10:40:56 am

And for what it's worth, I drove by Oakland City Hall today. Large police presence, lots of others milling around. Sparkly holiday lights above, and filth all over the ground. We should have seen this coming. The discontent has to boil over again, is my guess.

eclecticsandra

12/12/2011 11:00:23 am

I can identify with not understanding desperation. In my first job dealing with people in the have not world, I counseled a woman who was trying to bail her husband out of jail so he could go to work. She was hitting the bars late at night to get donations. This seemed beyond what a mother should do. I thought to myself that in a similar situation I would ask my parents for help. I suddenly realized that her parents had no more resources than she had. When we are brought up in the middle class, we have no understanding of desperation.

Sherryn

12/12/2011 12:20:04 pm

There are so many inciteful comments on this thread. It seems that, every year, around the holidays, people do bad things out of desperation, I think it's going to get worse because of the economy.
I go to the pharmacy so much that I should get frequent flyer miles, and I once asked the pharmacist why things like deoderant, sinus medicines and headache remedies were either alarmed or locked up. She said that "they" use ibupophen, some derivative of aluminum that's in most anti persperants, and other items are "cooked up" in meth or crushed and used to "water down" pure cocaine. I have no clue why ornaments and chatchke's would be stolen.

I never shop at the pharmacy, just go in to get my scripts and leave. The prices for convenience are just too high.

The OWS blocking of ports, really does rub me the wrong way. This isn't protesting one company, but it's disturbing goods from getting to market, and hurting the middle class people who are struggling just as hard as the protetors. OTR trucking is a very demanding, hard line of work. These drivers are the backbone of commerse, they work long hours and spend a lot of time away from their loved ones to earn a living.

Blocking ports also hurts small businesses much harder, the chains can redistribute from warehouses and other locations,or shift prices on other goods up a few cents to make up for the loss and ride out the storm, small businesses don't get the price breaks nor have the luxury of "riding out the storm", especially this time of year.

I agee about the difference between "wants" and "needs", and it starts from a young age.

There's a generation out there who were raised watching "Mr Rodgers". They were told they were "special" over and over, but weren't told why or how or that they're responsible for their own decisions. Yes, they're "Special", but stealing what you want is a temporary "fix".

Freckles

12/12/2011 03:45:31 pm

Sherryn, I couldn't disagree with you more about Mr. Rogers. He was telling children that each of us is worthy, unique, and capable. He taught kindness, how to be a friend, what to do with angry feelings--he taught children coping skills.

I can't imagine that you think that Mr. Rogers was responsible in any way for people who choose to be criminals. What do you think the role of the parents is in teaching morals? Or do you think Mr. Rogers should have taught everything?

Did you know that Fox blamed Mr. Rogers for essentially the same things you have? IMO, you and Fox are very wrong.

mistah charley, ph.d. link

12/12/2011 09:12:59 pm

Freckles - I agree with you completely about Mr. Rogers. I am sorry that some people deeply misunderstand him. I strongly recommend Tom Junod's article about him, published in 1998. Here's an excerpt from that article as quoted in Wikipedia.

>>During the 1997 Daytime Emmys, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Rogers. The following is an excerpt from Esquire's coverage of the gala, written by Tom Junod:

Mister Rogers went onstage to accept the award — and there, in front of all the soap opera stars and talk show sinceratrons, in front of all the jutting man-tanned jaws and jutting saltwater bosoms, he made his small bow and said into the microphone, "All of us have special ones who have loved us into being. Would you just take, along with me, ten seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are. Ten seconds of silence."

And then he lifted his wrist, looked at the audience, looked at his watch, and said, "I'll watch the time." There was, at first, a small whoop from the crowd, a giddy, strangled hiccup of laughter, as people realized that he wasn't kidding, that Mister Rogers was not some convenient eunuch, but rather a man, an authority figure who actually expected them to do what he asked. And so they did. One second, two seconds, seven seconds — and now the jaws clenched, and the bosoms heaved, and the mascara ran, and the tears fell upon the beglittered gathering like rain leaking down a crystal chandelier. And Mister Rogers finally looked up from his watch and said softly "May God be with you," to all his vanquished children.<<

The entire article, well worth reading, is at http://www.pittsburghinwords.org/tom_junod.html

V-A

12/12/2011 10:48:26 pm

Dear Ones, you have all moved me to tears this morning. Perhaps because I have been isolating myself from friends, from the outside world. For those with ugly childhoods and family drama, the holidays bring up all the demons. Ask any therapist. It is their boom time, starting with Halloween through New Year's.

I love Mr. Rogers, as did my children. I remember thinking that he was the only man in my children's lives I could trust. Thank you M.C.

I know a very wealthy couple who do not celebrate Christmas. Their sons come to visit. They enjoy each other. Eat well. Go to movies etc. But no gifts, no tree, no decorations, no madness. BUT all year, they give freely to each other, travel on trips to see each other and for pleasure, eat in the best restaurants, want for nothing.

On the other hand, my Mexican inlaws ( my brother and his wife have 17 grandchildren) have an orgiastic Christmas. None of them have the money to give the way they do, but give they do. They have always thought their gringo relatives stingy for NOT giving to every great niece and nephew. They literally open present for days. All on credit. . .

Of course, there are rich folk who do the same, and poor who have nothing. My point is that the most sacred things in our lives -- birth, death, celebration, religion, work -- have become consumer playgrounds.

My rich friends don't celebrate because they won't be bothered. My poor relatives celebrate because all year they scrimp.

And thank you whoever mentioned "luck" above. Luck is what separates the haves from the have not's. Not education or hard work. Amen.

V-A

12/12/2011 10:50:40 pm

Here is what sustains me in the holidays: http://www.sparkleball.com I make this site for fun. There are no ads. I give the information for free. It is so silly and yet, somehow, it has touched my hard old heart for years.

Enjoy, my Novakian compadres!

mistah charley, ph.d. link

12/12/2011 10:52:26 pm

Mister Rogers Emmy acceptance speech - the whole segment is three minutes long - is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upm9LnuCBUM

mistah charley, ph.d.

12/12/2011 10:57:27 pm

V-A - I never heard of sparkleballs before. Groovy!

12/13/2011 09:06:58 am

V-A, I had never heard of sparkleballs before either. Thank you for your site. I might give making one a try. It looks like a fun project. I also am a Mister Rogers fan and like many others have said, I support Occupy in spirit. It seems like they need to evolve in their method though (especially with winter coming/here).

V-A

12/13/2011 09:57:02 am

This crowd is too tony. If you hung out in trailer parks and campgrounds, you'd know all about sparkleballs. Glad you enjoyed it!

Sherryn

12/13/2011 01:43:08 pm

I have to apologize for my post about Mr Rogers. What I was trying to convey is how media affects children, that they need adults to explain what they see on television in an age appropriate way. Things like "if you don't wear name brands, you don't fit it", that complex issues don't get resolved in a half hour in real life, that you don't need material things to be happy. I didn't mean to insinuate a connection with criminal behavior with Mr Rogers.

VA Thanks for the sparkleball site. They'd make great ligting for parties.

V-A

12/13/2011 10:55:57 pm

Sherryn-- I did get your point about Mr. Rogers. I do worry about my children's notion of "work," particularly in the hard work department and their sense of entitlement. I often worry that I made them feel too special and didn't give them the proper lessons they need for reality. But I would always blame myself and their dad (:-) before I'd blame Mr. Rogers.

Laura Novak

12/14/2011 01:27:04 am

Like your friends, V-A, I would rather have time with people throughout the year, rather than cave to consumer pressure on one particular day b/c the world says it should be that way. Besides who has the money to buy all those gifts? I guess they do, and I'm sure it comes from a place of love (your in-laws family.)

I think the "special" thing is a backlash to our generation/s who were raised without that notion. It is likely compensatory behavior. Imagine anyone telling our grandparents that they were special? Two of mine were put out of the house as teenagers and made to learn a trade and made to leave more food for the myriad kids who followed them.

Non sequitor here, but yes, what I want is time with those I love.

clf

12/14/2011 05:07:09 am

In the Land of the Free you can't protest by walking peacefully on the sidewalk or walking peacefully on the street. Or by setting up a peaceful encampment on public land.

Fail to disperse and the paramilitary policy will hit you with their batons, clamp their boots on your neck, and shoot at you with tear gas canisters.

And when you're down and bleeding from the head, and people rush to your aid,the paramilitary forces will throw a flash bomb to keep those people from trying to save your life.

They will then tear down and destroy your belongings and call them trash and accuse you of littering.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/nov/23/occupy-wall-street-peoples-library

Should you decide to protest by merely sitting down on a university campus quad, you will be pepper sprayed in the face at point blank range.

When you're arrested, your bail will be set higher than that of actual criminals and you will be imprisoned under harsh conditions to deter others from following in your footsteps.

http://exiledonline.com/kpfk-radio-talks-to-yasha-levine-mark-ames-about-lapds-abusive-treatment-potentially-illegal-detention-of-occupy-la-protesters/

http://culvercitycrossroads.com/2011/12/05/dear-editor-lapd-arrests-the-truth-at-occupy-la/

Steal from CVS and you go to prison and are morally shamed by bloggers.

Steal millions from your customers and you get to be governor of New Jersey, fly in your own jet and walk around freely.

But if you are accused of the all-catch crime of "terrorism" the Emperor of the United States can unilaterally and without any oversight order your execution. The Emperor can also have your teenage son killed. And guess what? Nobody will give a shit.

http://www.salon.com/2011/10/20/the_killing_of_awlakis_16_year_old_son/

Expose government-sponsored slaughter of innocents and you will be put in solitary confinement indefinitely. The Emperor of the United States will declare you guilty on national television before you even get a trial.

http://www.bradleymanning.org/news/accused-wikileaker-defense-argues-obama-must-testify

But you can be assured that no harm will come to you if your crime is merely financial malfeasance.

http://www.salon.com/2011/12/12/obama_i_cant_comment_on_wall_street_prosecutions/singleton/

I suppose the Occupy movement should just stay home, close the blinds and quietly pray for change.

http://www.salon.com/2011/12/14/the_case_for_making_a_storm_in_the_ports/

Ottoline

12/14/2011 08:48:45 am

Sounds like ole Tom.

12/14/2011 09:29:46 am

Wealth doesn't trickle down, but problems do.

When I have resigned from jobs, I could never bring myself to leave behind work undone, no matter how ready I was to get out or how little sympathy I had for my boss. I knew that whatever messes I left would fall on my friends and coworkers, not the management who deserved it.

Burglars may not think about the laborers who will have to clean up their mess or even the victims who will have to do without possessions. But well-meaning protesters do need to minimize hassle to those not responsible for the problems.

habib link

12/20/2011 02:02:55 am

Hi,
Thanks for your nice information Laura Novak . I like it.

Thanks.

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