@Helen Back You mentioned that you spent some time homeless in your youth. I have a friend who did the same; he was not mentally ill, a drug addict or a criminal, he was just a kid with a bad family life (the foster system is as bad if not worse). Eventually, he did get into trouble with the law and was a mess through his 20's. He was about to become homeless again when we offered to have him come live with us.
I am interested on your thoughts on this. What do you see as a remedy for it? What can the average citizen do to help?
The first thing people can do is STOP giving money to homeless people, and DEMAND accountability. When these people stop getting money from strangers, and the police start prosecuting their crimes, many will have to actually work to live. We waste billions a year on the homeless, with ZERO results. On top of wasted taxpayer dollars, many have their insurance premiums skyrocketing from the vandalism and theft. Then, we pay more at the store to compensate for the theft from stores. In Portland, we spend a million a year on people to clean graffiti (maybe a job for someone homeless wanting to be better). I know San Fran spends about the same for people to go around and clean up poop.
I have always said, we need to have buildings for homeless people. The Salvation Army, and Goodwill can donate clothes (they make billions a year selling things donated to them and pay no taxes for it). Once a month we can pay someone to come in and cut hair. The most important thing homeless people need is safety, a toilet, a shower, and an address/phone number from which they can look for work. I would have breathalyzers and drug tests for everyone, every night. We can create jobs for them too.
We also need to differentiate the mentally ill, from the worthless. The ill should get care if they want it. Things have changed so much since I was on the street. It is insane now, and the working people are paying through the nose for it.
There is so much more, but I only have a minute.
I think many people need to go to hell, to realize they want out. Sometimes i think we should send drug addicts to an island, and let them fend for themselves. Can you imagine the hell that island would be? People would do anything to avoid going. It's prison, that keeps me from killing some people. There has to be consequences for our actions. For some reason the liberlas give these animals a free pass on everything.
