Vending Machine Theft—Who Is Most Likely To Steal?
These are two soda vending machines at the Bolivar Ferry terminal in Galveston, Texas.
I was not certain if they were caged in to prevent people from busting them open and taking the money, or to prevent the machines themselves from being stolen.
It did appear there was enough room through the bars to stick you arm in and buy a drink.
The Bolivar Ferry is a free service of the Texas Department of Transportation that somehow escapes Tea Party/Republican Party accusations of being a socialist front.
In the case of these machines, it seems a concern is that people might steal from government rather than the often heard lament that government is ripping off the people.
eBay—America’s Black Market
You can sell your counterfeit goods on eBay in the United States, but not in France.
This is the upshot of court rulings in France, Germany, and the U.S.
Courts in Germany and France have ruled that eBay must make strong efforts to be sure that when a Tiffany or Rolex product is sold on eBay, it is the real thing. A court in the United States ruled the opposite.
It is luxury brands that are in the fight with eBay in Europe, but eBay has been the middleman in more downmarket theft as well.
Here is an article about widespread theft rings brought on by online auction services.
eBay knows people are selling knock-off goods and stolen goods.
Here is an an article from The Financial Times that suggests a middle course as a solution to to disputes between eBay and trademark holders.
Only strong regulation by government can make eBay a reputable business.
Welcome To Texas Liberal
Texas Liberal is a blog of politics and political history.
My name is Neil Aquino. Here is my profile.
I can be reached at naa618@att.net.
Additional focuses of the blog are books, art, poetry, personal relationships and, also, sea life and marine mammals.
( The picture above is of the Houston Ship Channel. A narrow channel can lead to a wide sea.)
The signature post of this blog is the Martin Luther King Reading & Reference List. This list is the best of it’s kind on the web.
Another good post is my reciting the words to the Shaker hymn Simple Gifts on Galveston Island, Texas as a ship passes behind.
I live in Houston, Texas and I do sometimes write about political issues in Houston and in Texas.
I also often write about my former hometown of Cincinnati, and about the great beach city of Galveston, Texas.
I define liberalism as a role for government in the economy to help make life more fair, and a broad acceptance of people regardless of who they are.
This is why it says “All People Matter” at the top of the blog.
A blog grows one reader at a time. If you like what you read here, please consider forwarding the link.
Texas Liberal began regular posting on July 25, 2006.
I also blog at the Houston Chronicle as one of eight featured political bloggers, and on Where’s The Outrage? which posts out of North Carolina.
Thanks for reading Texas Liberal.
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