So what does this have to do with the Naperville city council? The answer is absolutely nothing, unless you want to buy an apple at Keller’s farm stand and speak about it during the Public Forum portion of a council meeting. Sometimes people simply want to present information or a story at a council meeting, without looking for any action from the council.
My wife Sherry was driving to Keller’s Farm stand on Knoch Knolls Road, when she noticed two seasoned women peddling their bicycles westbound, looking a bit tired. Exercise can do that. She purchased a 1/4 peck of apples (about 7 apples) for about $9. As she was leaving, the two bike riders came into the farm stand and asked if they could each buy an apple. A little nourishment always helps when someone needs a little pick-me-up while exerting energy. The young girl behind the counter said ‘no’, that apples can only sold as a bag full. The two women didn’t want to carry a bag of apples while biking, so though they were disappointed, they understood the policy, and left.
My wife hearing the conversation offered each an apple They appreciated the offer, but would only take the two apples if they paid my wife, to which my wife said, ‘no, please just take them and enjoy’. After a few minutes of ‘apple negotiation’ they took one apple and were very appreciative.
After hearing the story, I thought there must have been some type if miscommunication, so I called Keller’s and they confirmed they won’t sell an apple or two. It’s buy a bag or nothing policy. Being a capitalist and supporting the concept of free enterprise, I didn’t question the policy, but it did seem to be a bit cold-hearted to send the two women on their way, without selling two apples.
Keller’s also has an apple orchard / farm stand in Oswego at 2500 Johnson Road. It’s a fun place to take the kids. It’s massive with apple trees as far as you can see, with over 60 varieties of apples. At any time of any day there must be over a thousand apples on the ground, many of which are in perfect condition, but if you want to buy only one of them, chances are it won’t happen unless someone doesn’t know the policy.
It all gets down to the Golden Rule, he who has the gold makes the rules, and in this case he who has the apples, makes the ‘you can’t buy one apple’ rule.
So buy the bag, grab an apple and donate the rest to your nearest organization that helps the homeless. Capitalism and charity working in harmony!
Another option is to wait until January 1, 2023 when all crime becomes legal (or an ‘optional’ ticket). Policies similar to this encourage the 5 finger discount.
Grant, no doubt about it, you provide clarity and common sense to any topic.
By definition if something is legal it is not a crime. It can be morally or ethically wrong but it still is not crime.
And if we are going to start jailing people for ethical or moral wrong doing then anyone elected to public office needs to start getting their affairs in order, because in someones eyes, in pursuing their political agendas, they have committed a moral or ethical “crime”.
As to policies that encourage “5-finger discount” those are primarily the store policies which have gone from just prohibiting employees from confronting thieves, to not even filing a police report because the lose is covered by insurance so why bother?
The Smash & Grab practices growing more popular with each passing day is one the most current example. When these type of thefts first started the stores had video of the crime that proved to the insurance companies they had been robbed, and therefore could file a claim and be compensated for their loses without needing a police report. So they stopped calling police because they didn’t need a police report and the police investigation was just to much of a hassle. This has been going on for close to ten years now, long before January 1st of 2023.
Lets be clear this new legislation does not prevent any criminal (person breaking any law that exists today) from being arrested, charged and tried. It only limits the circumstances were they can be detained before being tried. The US Constitution even states that no person shall be denied property or freedom without due process. And confining people because they are to poor (or lack the financial resources) to post bail is not due process.