Blue-collar crooks

Anyhow, there are blue-collar crooks, and though relatively poor themselves, many of them perpetrate inequality and bring further suffering upon other poor people.

A lot of poor, underclass youth rob other poor people. Ninety percent of our prisoners are from poor backgrounds. Most of them are there for attacking, robbing or killing other poor people. Why? In other words, while we dutifully roar against white collar criminals, we must keep in mind the blue-collar crooks, or at least how some are also dishonest and unscrupulous.

That is, apart from some shooting, house-breaking, etc., the rampant dishonesty, unethical behaviour, of the blue- collar tribe that has also become quite troubling.

Three weeks ago, for example, a poor lady, a pensioner, explained how she hired a plumber to fix two leaking taps in her home. She paid his “high price” in advance.

Next day, the taps began leaking worse than before. Floors flooded.

The poor pensioner pleaded; the plumber promised and promised but never came. That is dishonesty, sheer crookedness. She had to hire another plumber at further expense. Of course, you may think this just a simple, everyday thing.

I used to think so too. But in recent years, from the many complaints I heard, and more so, from my own bad experiences with some of these blue-collar workers, well, my faith in them has been shaken, badly. It now seems as if anyone who has a nice house and car or small business is easy target for blue-collar crooks. But that for now is another story.

I heard how one man left his doors open for a poor painter.

On his return, several electronic items went missing. The painter too. Plumbers, carpenters, masons, even electricians – have at one time or another given me the treatment. Taking money, leaving the job undone, promising to come back, leaving me to pay somebody else to fix the mess they left behind.

And please, don’t complain.

They get more vex than you. To make matters worse, you have trouble finding one when you in need. And this, with all the subsidised “skills-training” programmes around for years.

Two years ago, I sought to encourage a young, struggling contractor to develop his trade. I hired him to do house repairs. He charged big price, but I didn’t mind. To help motivate him, I gave him an extra $1000 as a bonus. The young man left the job unfinished, went away with the bonus, never to return.

Can’t even trust them. Right now, after paying over $200,000 for roof repairs, plumbing, etc, my roof still leaks and the contractor shows no concern.

What kind of consumer protection or remuneration is there for such things? Should such blue-collar types be sued in the small claims court? I am looking at Consumer and Protection Act (Section 4) which deals not only with “goods” but “services” too. Quite fed up, I now refuse to remain a sitting duck for any blue-collar crook. Maybe your luck is better than mine.

The recurring allegations of corruption over one well-connected contractor after another suggest how widespread this country has become gripped by shameless crookedness. Top to bottom. I admire American entrepreneurship.

Recognising the growing dishonesty and inefficiency of these blue-collar types, two consumer support organisations in the U.S.were formed – Angies’ List and Home Advisor.

Each privately-run group has screened and compiled a list of reputable plumbers, carpenters, masons, interior decorators, tailors, electricians, etc. Their names are properly registered and bonded.

Consumers can call up, request the service required, and with a string of service guarantees, the job will be properly done. If not, the worker must return. We badly need something so.

While we tackle white collar criminals, the time has come to stop these blue-collar crooks too.