Waste Not, Want Not

I wrote a post along similar lines five years ago but it seems that nothing has changed.  It might even have become worse.

One thing that I cannot stand is to see things wasted, whether it be food, objects, or money.  There are so many people out there who live with practically nothing, and yet every day reusable or recyclable items are thrown into the garbage.  Restaurants serve huge portions that are not eaten and discarded.  Supermarkets overstock produce that has been shipped thousands of miles only to spoil on the shelf when it isn't purchased.

During the financial crisis of 2008, a bank in California received over $1 billion in bailout money, then turned around and laid off 450 employees, and treated its senior staff and clients to a series of luxury dinners and rock concerts. How can these folks be allowed to get away with stuff like this? The bank claimed that no taxpayer money was used and they could do as they pleased with their assets.  But that's not the point.

Really, it's downright insulting to ordinary folk for corporate bigwigs to go out and throw their money around when everyone else is having difficulties.

Where is the regulation?  The banks got in trouble in the first place because nobody was really keeping tabs on what they were doing. There were no clear instructions put in place as to how and where the bailout money was to be used.  As a result the CEOs and their upper management lined their pockets while the little people got shafted.

The wastrels out there need to stop and look at the short-term and long-term consequences of their actions. Otherwise they might one day find themselves out of luck.