Some California drivers are resorting to desperate measures to beat the surge in gas prices at the pump -- deliberately running dry on the state's freeways and simply waiting for rescue.
When they run out of gas, eventually a publicly-funded patrol vehicle comes by and gives them a free gallon. Whatta scam! You just sit there for 30 to sixty minutes, and you get $3.00 worth of free gas.
Why are we raising the minimum wage? These folk (who, I'm assuming, are minimum-wage type folk) are willing to sit on a hot LA freeway for an hour for $3.25.
I suspect the story is bogus. People aren't running out of gas on purpose as prices rise. It just happens that more people can't afford to re-fill, so more people take a chance on "E." That's my guess.
Then again, there's a certain mindset--seen among teenagers and union employees and (I'm told) lower-level military personnel--that likes to scam the system anyway it can and get out of work. They spend four hours concocting a scheme to earn $15.00, not realizing they could've earned double that amount by just doing an honest half day of work. Such people also spend more time and effort trying to avoid work than it would've taken just to do the job.
My reference to teenagers, union, and military personnel is based on experience and stories. I worked a lot of as teenager and remember the mindset well. I also worked in a union shop for two summers and saw the mindset all the time. As for the military, I'm basing it on stories, since I never served.
