I am responding here on RealNeo to J. Murray who is a frequent and steady contributor to Brewed Fresh Daily. Here [1] is the link on BFD that is relevant.
I thought it might be more effective if I showed J. Murray rather than told J. Murray.
The truth is there are different worlds in the USA…
I met Ed on Broadway near the main Post Office. He was lugging a bunch of sheet metal on his shoulder up Woodland. He wasn't hitch hiking, but I thought if there ever was a time for hitch hiking it would be with all the metal...so I pulled over and offered Ed a ride.
Ulterior motive? Get his story. Here's what Ed said:
He's a vet. Homeless. Pays child support without fail ($7,000/yr) from vet payments. Had a head injury. Repeatedly tried to get construction jobs in town but to no avail. Tried today...no go...
Very polite and proud guy. His hands were worn and dirty. His fingernails weren’t chewed. Asked for no pity. Appreciated the ride. Sounded sane and cogent.
Cohen didn’t want to buy the metal - which Ed thought was stainless.
I thought it was stainless too, but a magnetic grade which was low in nickel and chromium so it was not as valuable.
I’ve scrapped just like Ed. It is a tough and scientific business.
So just as I was leaving Ed came out of Cohen’s and asked if - since I was headed up Woodland - could I truck him over to Quincy?
No problem…
At the Quincy scrapper there was a line. We just made it in the door by 3:30pm closing.
J, I don’t think hedge fund managers are any smarter than Ed. Ed is bringing value but getting about $2.00 for a 3 mile hike with metal on his shoulders.
Maybe we should take a ride around the City together to gain perspective…
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