Right versus wrong, plain and simple

The other evening, Marge and I were watching a TV program in which junkers with loads of whatever -- most would call it junk -- come to buyers, who offer them money for their loads. In this episode, the seller brought several items to the buyers. The buyers offered several hundred dollars for these items, but the seller had no idea what they were worth.

After thinking about what the buyers offered, the seller decided to take the offer. He walked off with several hundred dollars in his pocket. After the seller left, the buyer commented the items cost him several hundred but were worth several thousand.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized, in my opinion, this was just wrong. What bothered me most was this is really a common practice: Take advantage of someone who may be too trusting or who simply lacks information. Buy it or manufacture it for as little as you can, make as much as you can, and to heck with whom it hurts.

The tobacco industry knew cigarettes and such were harming the health of those who smoked or chewed or used tobacco. I also think they knew those around the users were being harmed with second-hand smoke.

But for the sake of a few dollars, they looked the other way and turned a deaf ear. The manufacturer of those air bags knew they were causing problems, but it was cheaper to pay a few lawsuits than address the problem.

Clear back at the beginning of the Bible, Cain asks the question about being "my brother's keeper."

Many would say, "I am not my brother's keeper." But I happen to say, "Yes, we are our brother's keeper in many respects." Morally and financially, we are our brother's keeper. (I'll write about wages and food stamps and financial assistance sometime later.)

When I walk into a store to buy something, I should expect to pay a fair price but not a totally ridiculous one. It should be fair for both of us. When people walk up to my farmers market booth, I believe my veggies should be items I would eat, and the price I expect in payment should be fair. When I buy baby calves, I expect Herb to ask a reasonable price that will be fair to him and me. When I buy 2x4s, I plan on paying Kenny a fair price.

I'm a Type 2 diabetic, so I take a number of medications. A good friend of mine is also a Type 2 diabetic. We have talked medications before and what they cost. Some of the newer medications work, but they are horribly expensive. I take several medications, and one of them, after insurance paid its part, was costing Marge and me over $300 a month. The price actually jumped from $10 a month last year to over $300 this year. I told Dr. Wen, my diabetes doctor, we simply couldn't afford it. So we changed my meds, which don't work as well, for some that are more reasonably priced. This same thing happened to my friend. I really question the fairness of the price.

There have been times when emergencies have occurred, and gas for our vehicles was in short supply. Some of the gas stations raised prices so they could maximize profits. If you needed gas, you paid whatever to buy gas. This is just plain wrong. Our government tries to stop and police this wrongdoing, but what about that little voice inside us that says it's wrong?

I don't think there is any cut-and-dried formula to say what is fair and what isn't. The standard I use is my conscience. When I sell a veggie or a loaf of bread, I charge what is a fair price while I listen to that little voice inside me.

There are times when someone I know is having a hard time walks up, and I'll give them a break. Good business practices would say, "Stick it to her," but that little voice inside me says, "Give her a break." That little voice wins out.

At the end of the day, it comes down to trust. Whether it's hardware or lumber or calves or a good cup of coffee, I place my trust in the seller that they are being fair with me. I've been burned many a time because I trusted someone who wasn't trustworthy. But, in the end, I don't have to look back at those I've used and abused.

Until next time.