As a retired roadster, I am on your side all the way!

I hope the same for you and all your loved ones.

I needed to add what I did at the bottom of the OP.

but am now so even more than ever!

Stay safe and healthy out there, Heretic! We all need you!

You stay healthy too.

Needless to say, that extends to all of humanity.

a very comfortable living over the past 3 decades! Everyone else you mentioned in the OP is more than worthy of the plaudits extended to them as well. I really hope there is a re-definition of what "essential worker" means going forward.

But how many think about the workers in the mills, the truckers, the shelf stockers etc who are working 24/7 to keep our asses clean.

Hopefully we will see a change in attitude after this.

Thank you for doing what you do, truly. It’s my fervent hope that everyone will do what they can to see that every one of these workers, and every worker is paid a truly living wage. This reminds us all jobs are valuable to the sustenance of a civilized society. Talk and praise is cheap-society needs to put its money where its mouth is. Generally speaking, we the people are willing to do that,but it’s the banksters and malefactors of great wealth as FDR rightly called them that stand in the way. There are, however, many more of us than them, so we need to unite in common cause so that everyone who labors reaps the fruits of those labors-workers generate true wealth and value not hedge fund managers.That is the best way to honor their sacrifice and vital work in these perilous times. Be safe and again thank you!

we show up, do our jobs, clean up and don't really interfere with anyones' lives.

but we grease the wheels.

This country is going to find out just how that works.

Best wishes and thoughts to all of you guys, and thanks for being there.

blah blah essential blah blah

Me: You keep saying they are so essential, but the companies don't seem to think they are essential if they decide they are only worth paying $10/hour with at most a smattering of minimal benefits, and willing to do without if they can't find enough at that wage level. If they are so essential, they would pay whatever it takes to get them.

Friend: (crickets)

(This from a conversation a few years ago)

CoWorker few years back; "Why the hell is that person (the one that took 45 seconds longer than he thought she needed to get the hamburger) worth $15. an hour?"

"Me: Why the hell do you think that just because they serve hamburgers, it means they should have to live in poverty?"

Now;

They're heroes!!

Couldn't agree more.



Off to the yard. Stay safe, Progree.

and when this is over, I will likely still be working in that same crappy, low-paying job unless I die from the virus. I will likely receive no assistance from the government. I will still live from paycheck to paycheck.

Something to remember when we’re finally on the other side of this crisis. Thank you for doing your part.

I certainly have long thought people deserve to earn more.

We can't even get survival class jobs here, age and over-qualified, too afraid you'll leave or perhaps be after their jobs, plus the whole higher cost insurance wise issue, before this catastrophe?

Not lost on me, about 12 years ago, the average age of fast food workers and people in survival jobs, I noticed had gone way up.

I was starting to wonder if we were out of teenagers, rarely see any.

2028 projection: 30.9%
https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/civilian-labor-force-participation-rate.htm

30somethings working every fast food place and max of 2 workers per.

Thanks for that, interesting!

Inside casinos, same thing, not many youngins work there, back in the day when they were open.

I took care of the computer side of a little sanitation company for several years. The owners ran into customer complaints as soon as they bought it from the previous owners, because of some unmaintained equipment and some sloppy record keeping. The new owners were prone to pointing out how few stops they missed or picked up late.

I told them, "People are not interested in a 99% pickup rate if their can is missed. They only see their own can still full. If the mail doesn't come, or UPS is a day late or the school bus is delayed, that's ok. If the garbage is not picked up, they get upset. They just want the garbage to disappear."

The people who honk the horn or pass the truck in anger when it blocks traffic are the first to complain if their stop is missed. They're also the ones who will set the can out after seeing the truck go by and then call and say the guys just didn't stop.

Our economy may be on a low simmer right now, but we're all still producing some garbage. Don't forget to thank the people who collect it and make it go away.

But thanks for saying so.

Refuse and waste management folks certainly contribute to making a decent society livable.

There needs to be a sea change in appreciation for all who keep this country running: truckers, grocers, waste management and on and on. We should appreciate you more, not just now, but going forward.

Excellent post and thank you so much for all you do.