Is law a mere minimum standard, an absolute moral code, or a gray area exploited for personal gain?
Let’s consider a real-world example. In California, smoking is prohibited within 20 feet of the main entrance to state properties, such as schools and city buildings. So, what about smoking 21 feet from the door?
Let's assume this is the entrance to the only hospital in Mammoth Lakes, California. To be clear, most people who arrive at this hospital, especially out-of-town visitors, are either injured on the ski slopes or are experiencing breathing difficulties due to the high altitude and lack of oxygen. Is it acceptable to smoke 20 feet from the only public entrance?
Ultimately, my question is, if the law permits an action, why should I choose not to do something that is both lawful and legal? Many people might respond, “You should do it if you like.” Some might add that, beyond legal considerations, there are also religious concerns. But should these be the only factors?
I'm tired of people saying what we're doing isn't illegal.
The benchmark shouldn't be legality; it should be common sense and respect. I'm not suggesting that we overthink every action. I'm simply saying that a little thoughtfulness and respect can go a long way.
A distant relative of mine owned a car dealership. He used to say he made good money selling affordable Honda Civics. If I owned a dealership, I'd be in the Lamborghini business. If you're going to do something, do it right and with class.
I was wrong.
Car dealerships can set their own prices, and individuals are typically prohibited from buying directly from auctions. This means that to purchase a car, I must go through a dealership. Alternatively, I could obtain a license to buy from an auction, but this would require accepting that the car might need repairs. If I lack the funds, neither option is feasible, especially if I need the car for work.
I've been in this situation before. In 1997, after months of job hunting, I landed a seasonal position at Future Shop. The training center was over 40 kilometers from my one-bedroom rental apartment. To get there, I had to drop off my wife at work first, making the total commute over 60 kilometers each way. To make matters worse, on the first day of training, November 11th, the city was blanketed with over 15 centimeters of snow. I had no choice but to buy a car. I spent $4,000 on a credit card with a 28.8% interest rate, despite earning only $7 per hour ($280 per week). I had to either go to work or risk losing the job opportunity.
I did everything they asked, including staying late after 9 p.m. to break down cardboard boxes in the freezing cold and move heavy boxes of computers. One of the most tedious tasks was changing price tags to reflect new promotions, often with the same price but a big "sale" sign.
The Boxing Day returns were completed by January 15th, and out of 25 seasonal employees, only two were offered permanent positions. I was fortunate to be one of them, but the hourly wage remained at $7.
Six months into the year, Future Shop was struggling. All the cleaning staff had been laid off, and we were expected to clean the floors, shelves, kitchen, and bathrooms. Many employees were unhappy about cleaning the bathrooms, but I had no choice. I still had a car payment, and my pride wouldn't allow my wife to shoulder all the financial burden. I continued working for $7 an hour, which included cleaning the men's and women's bathrooms three times a week.
I usually ate leftovers from home, and on Tuesdays, I'd treat myself to a $2 meal at KFC on "Toonie Tuesday." But I was able to pay off my car in almost a year, largely thanks to my wife's income as an engineer.
Returning to the topic of cheap car sales, I purchased my car from a Chrysler dealership. In Canada, there were certain legal protections for consumers. However, this is not the case in the U.S. Here's a legal trick used by car dealerships in the U.S.
A beloved relative of ours would buy around 10 cars for an average of $2,500 each. He'd then sell one of them for $5,000 with minimal or no work. Someone in financial need, like myself, might be desperate for a car to get to work, especially if their spouse is unemployed or working a minimum-wage job.
The buyer, often financially strapped, agrees to the deal. They receive a $250 discount but must pay $2,500 upfront. The dealer then finances the remaining amount at a high interest rate of 10-15%. However, there's a catch: if the buyer misses a payment, the dealer repossesses the car, re-evaluates its value, and charges the buyer the difference.
Since the dealer financed the car themselves, they retain the title until the buyer pays it off. The dealer has invested no upfront money. They bought the car, sold it at a profit, but only financed the profit portion.
A year into the deal, the buyer misses a payment. The dealer legally repossesses the car and assesses its value using Kelley Blue Book, which is $1,800. The buyer has already paid $1,000, leaving a remaining debt of $1,950. If the debt isn't paid, the buyer will be sent to collections and charged additional fees, including a higher interest rate. The buyer is now unemployed and without a car to find a new job.
Every single transaction is legal, by the books.
Renting taxis to drivers, or condos to poor, could be even more lucrative. All legal, according to State and Federal laws.
I thought I'd be in the Lamborghini business, or at least Mercedes, BMW, or Porsche! Even if I'd wanted to be a real estate rental business owner, I would've considered buying luxury properties, not rundown ones!
The same people always reminded me that I was smart but foolish. I could make a lot of money, but I don't!
Thirty years ago, I started my own design and build company. My partner was a highly educated gentleman with a brilliant eye for space utilization. His designs were truly inspiring. He had a close friend who was also an architect, and they had collaborated on a few projects. This connection led to a network of experts in various fields. Initially, we relied on his existing contacts, but as our business grew, we expanded our team to include many other professionals.
In Iran, people are often paid months late, despite the official monthly payment schedule. I implemented a policy of monthly payments with the option for early advances, and I offered a 15% pay increase. However, I also reserved the right to dismiss anyone who didn't align with our work culture.
By the time I started my own business, I had a long list of completed projects, including subway stations, tunnels, ICU rooms, and biplane angiography operating rooms. I had built villas and remodeled countless properties. I was skilled in construction and project management and had strong relationships with suppliers.
At the beginning of the project, we were working on the foundation. A worker, who turned out to be a former helicopter pilot from Afghanistan, was helping me mark the ground. He was accurately reading the blueprints and telling me the measurements. He had left Afghanistan for safety reasons and was working to save money to join his family in Kuwait.
I asked him if he preferred another type of work. He mentioned plumbing or steel welding, but he lacked specific expertise. I believed that my job site was an ideal training ground for anyone looking to advance their skills. I was willing to pay more for those who were committed to learning and growing.
In a short time, many of our employees, who initially had little experience, became experts within six months. We encouraged them to leave if they desired, and I often referred them to friends who needed skilled workers.
Some workers returned to their hometowns, while others found better opportunities closer to home, avoiding the two-hour bus commute. However, most stayed. One such worker was Ali. A skilled plasterer, he quickly adapted to our high standards of perfection. His flawless work on walls and ceilings made our tile, wood, and door/window installations much easier.
Ali quickly learned to read blueprints and work independently. Within a year, he could interpret electromechanical blueprints, and within two years, he could implement structures with minimal supervision. He became my invaluable right-hand man and the best foreman I've ever worked with.
Another worker, Gol Agha, expressed interest in accounting. Within six months, he was managing payments and inventory. He effectively planned material deliveries and storage. We often shared meals and tea breaks together, building a strong bond of trust and camaraderie. They were like family to me.
As we wound down operations, some employees found new jobs, while we helped others secure positions. A few, however, needed more assistance. Though I didn't have a lot of money, I did my best to help them, and they were all grateful, except for Ali.
He didn't want money or a job. He simply wanted to continue working with me. He came to our nearly empty home and cried, expressing how much I had impacted his life. He shared how his family's situation had improved, and his children, once hopeless, were now studying hard, inspired by me. It was a heartbreaking moment for both me and my wife. She even suggested we stay, feeling it was unfair to leave them. However, I had made my decision. Legally, I had no obligation to them. I could have left without paying anyone. I did not have to struggle cleaning toilets for $7 an hour, if I had kept my money. For years, I'd worried about their futures, knowing few others would care for them as individuals.
The sad reality is that morality, kindness, and responsibility seem to be diminishing, at least in Iran and the U.S. Just look at the nominees for upcoming government positions. We can't justify inhumane behavior simply because it's legal. This was evident in a recent argument I had about rental income caps in California. While it's legal to buy multiple properties, I believe it's irresponsible to hoard housing and make it inaccessible and expensive for those who need it.
Just because I speed on the highway doesn't make it right. Similarly, just because I've bought properties doesn't make it right, regardless of legality.
The future looks bleak, and I'm at a loss.
(c) I personally took these photos and videos and own the rights to them. Please feel free to use them as you wish.
(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_Shop
(2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toonie
(3) https://www.kbb.com/
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