“Kicking them out of their camps is surely the motivation they need to become productive members of society.”
The author cites very few leaders. The article is really written in a sensational way.
Anyway, for the few people actually mentioned: how about fix the actual problem? We know of programs that have evidence they work. Stop pussy footing around and implement them.
““They’re seeking to blame and penalize and marginalize the victims rather than take the steps they haven’t found the political will to take,” said Eric Tars, the senior policy director at the National Homelessness Law Center.”
What will they do with them? Jail them? Take them to a firing squad? Where will they go? I’ve been temporarily homeless before, and at the time, I had a couch I could surf, but now? I have lost all those people due to various pandemic-related reasons, and I’m living on borrowed time here. I could very easily become homeless again because I’m partially disabled but don’t qualify for government assistance (FPL is $17,000 for a single person…you don’t qualify for food stamps or Medicaid if you make more than that), then what? I’m punished because of who I am? My inability to work more? My bad luck of having no friends or family?
I’m a voting Democrat, and I like to believe that the people who have always voted Democrat, not side switchers, would never want this to happen. But man, I’m so sick of having my faith in humanity tested, every day. Stop punishing people for being born or forced into poverty. The CEO of Intuit, for example, a major corporation in California, could probably feed and house all of the nation’s poor and still net a cool quarter bill.
Isn’t it nice when the two parties can put aside their differences and reach bipartisan consensus? 😌
spoiler
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The stupidest part is that both Republicans (in Utah at least) and Democrats have seen, first hand, that Housing First initiatives are actually less expensive for the government than just ignoring, then displacing inconvenient homeless populations.
Research in Seattle, Washington, found that providing housing and support services for homeless alcoholics costs taxpayers less than leaving them on the street, where taxpayer money goes towards police and emergency health care.
Both morality and fiscal responsibility agree on certain issues, and this is one of them.
I’m not saying that housing first is the ultimate best remedy, because I don’t know all of the alternatives. Just that clearing homeless camps is proven to be expensive and ineffective.
They don’t care about morality or fiscal responsibility because they aren’t stupid.
Homelessness exists as a threat to keep you terrified of poverty.
Yes, the bloods and crips are always happy to screw people over so that their property taxes can be raised!
The tent cities suck, but maybe first try tackling the cause of them rather than arresting everyone?
Thank you for this!
Similar article on subject:
West Coast cities start to confront the limits of the liberal dream
My only liberal dream is a world without conservatives. The world may not be anywhere close to perfect, but it’s made significantly worse by conservatives.
Some opposition is good to test things out and keep them in check. The problem is uncompromising, blind ultra-conservatism.
We already challenge ideas very effectively without conservative opinions being involved.
Nothing good in history has ever come from conservatism. Not a single thing.
