A news article once told of a large feedlot that overpaid about $140,000 for feed grain due to an electronic “butcher’s thumb.” An electronic gadget operated by remote control was suspected of making grain truck scales at the lot register more grain than actually was delivered.
The newspaper said a 75-pound weight allegedly was attached to the scales under the truck weighing area, with the weight’s position on the scale beams determining how much a load was “padded.” A similar gimmick was used in a grain-storage operation in Colorado.
Such dishonesty is not a new problem. The Bible says, “A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight” (Proverbs 11:1).
A false balance is just one way yo...