Thieves and Liars, Liars and Thieves

What makes people steal?  

You can read all kinds of research where they try to explain the psychological reasons for stealing.  Some of it is interesting and may be right:  

"Stealing becomes an issue when the person doing the stealing is old enough to know better. Sometimes children under the age of five take objects that interest them, not yet understanding that stealing is wrong. They might not have enough self-control to resist taking something they want.
For those old enough to know better, there are several reasons for stealing. Stealing may be caused by jealousy, low self-esteem, or peer-pressure. Social issues like feeling excluded or overlooked can also cause stealing. People may steal to prove their independence, to act out against family or friends, or because they do not respect others or themselves,
Sometimes, stealing is a compulsive disorder. This is called kleptomania. In other cases, a person may have come to believe that stealing is socially acceptable. Some people steal as a means to survive due to economic hardship. Others simply enjoy the rush of stealing, or steal to fill an emotional or physical void in their lives."
http://www.healthline.com/health/stealing#Overview1 

 There is an interesting article on Forbes about stealing:
"The research suggests something telling about how we rationalize behavior given changing circumstances: moral behavior shifts when moral standards shift, and we’re chronically unaware of how frequently we shift our moral standards.  Even brief financial deprivation—or the perception of it—can trigger a shift in moral standards.
Alter calls this a shift to “transient ‘new’ moral standards,” and we’re lighting fast at coming up with reasons to justify the shift, even while we’re likely to criticize someone else for doing the same thing.
It’s this human proneness to shifting moral standards that makes deciphering the motivations of questionable behavior less than crystal clear.  Very seldom do regular people—those not sporting a criminal rap sheet—do something “just because they could.” Our justifying brains are busy working out a skewed calculus to rationalize our behavior even if we’re not consciously thinking it through."
Whether Rich Or Poor, Feeling Deprived Makes Us Steal More

What do I think causes a person to steal?  I think some people are just outright low life scum with no morals or conscience.  And from some recent personal experience, that Thieves and Liars tend to go hand in hand.

Thursday Truths

 

Bridgeport Spaulding School Board Meeting September 12th, 2016

On the agenda:
- Citizen Participation begins at 0:40
- Agenda Adjustments begins at 2:47
- Consent Agenda- payment of bills, approval of minutes begins at 4:11
- Tax Rate Request begins at 11:14
- Draft Participation Policy? begins at 13:57
- Board Member Comments begin at 15:10
- Comments by Mr. Lagalo concerning the actions of several players on the varsity football team begins at 32:47
© 2016 Carla Citizen All Rights Reserved

During the citizen participation period Bridgeport resident Heather McLeod introduced herself to the board.  She is running for for Saginaw County Treasurer office this year.  She had some nice things to say about Bridgeport Schools and the impact they had on her life.

They discussed some business items like payment of bills etc..   There was also a discussion about the tax rate request.  It is hard to hear and hard to follow the discussion.  Basically the millage rate  on the winter tax bill will go from 5.02 to 6.0 for one year.  There was also some discussion about other items that may end up on the ballot in the future.

Again I would like to encourage everyone to listen to the board member comments.  They usually share good information about things going on.  Several of the members did share their views on an incident that happened before the September 9th football game.  There has been a lot of discussion online about the incident, some good and some kind of ugly.  I understand the various views on the matter.  The board members had some good comments about it, shared some valid concerns about it.  Mr. Lagalo did address how it has been handled by the school and how the students will behave in the future.  I just hope that people remember that these are kids/young adults and they will make some good decisions and some not so good decisions.  I remember life at their age and though it is a wonderful time in their lives, it is also a struggle.  So glad I survived that period of my life despite some of the bad decisions I made.  For the record - I disagree with the action they took but I also understand where they were coming from, and I fully support their right to do what they did.

Mr. Allen also shared some information about a upcoming contest that will be held by Independent Bank.  It is called Investing In Youth.  Schools can be nominated right now and then voting for the winner will be held during October.  The winners will be awarded a $5,000 grant.  Hope to see all of Bridgeport rally behind our school in October and vote for the Bearcats!!

Bridgeport Township Board Meeting September 6th, 2016

On the agenda:
Cheryl Hadsall presentation begins at 3:10
Special Orders -
1. Public Hearing - Flint River Dike Special Assessment District Roll begins at 7:20
Public Comment  begins at 12:11
Unfinished Business -
1. Resolution R16-08 Flint River Dike Special Assessment District Roll begins at 17:35
Board Member Comments begin at 19:59
© 2016 Carla Citizen All Rights Reserved

I will try to write a blog post about the meeting in a day or two.  Lots of good information shared by Cheryl Hadsall, Larry Ford from the Birch Run/Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce during the public comment period.  Also by the Township Manager Rose Licht in the closing board member comments.