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My solution - for starters, stop blaming people and judging millions of people - people who's individual circumstances you do not know (that's basically the subject of this particular thread, after all). After that, we'll go from there, ok?
If we spent just a small portion of the money we are spilling down the drain in Iraq to provide shelter/psychological and medical care/job training and job placement assistance to the Homeless that would be money much better spent for our own country, in my opinion. We still end up paying for people on the streets when they get very ill or get desperate enough to commit crimes and get put in jail. It is not like they just "disappear", with no cost to society. Vets with PTSD that have been discarded... after giving their all for our country... deserve better.
If we spent just a small portion of the money we are spilling down the drain in Iraq to provide shelter/psychological and medical care/job training and job placement assistance to the Homeless that would be money much better spent for our own country, in my opinion. We still end up paying for people on the streets when they get very ill or get desperate enough to commit crimes and get put in jail. It is not like they just "disappear", with no cost to society. Vets with PTSD that have been discarded... after giving their all for our country... deserve better.
There were homeless and poor before Iraq, so obviously Iraq is inconsequential.
Some people look to the government to carry them indefinetly. They don't mind living in low income housing, living off welfare etc. No responcibility, no need to worry about a job, no need to worry about next weeks check. It comes every month like clockwork. Maybe work under the table for some extra cash. To them life is good.
Some folks hate every cent they take from the gov. They hate the feeling of not being able to do it by themselves and work hard to free themselves from this bondage, this stigma. Those folks I respect and believe we should help.
My opinion is that those who are out to defraud the system should be punished. You can't just choose not to work - that is wrong. Then again, why should everyone who needs that kind of "help" be tarnished with the same brush?
Crack down on the fraudsters, but make sure help is there for those who need it. It's not that hard....one simply cannot refuse to work and such people shouldn't be too hard to weed out.
Another factor driving increased homlessness is the rising costs of rent in many areas. This is a pretty mindblowing survey just taken in Los Angeles.
Are all of thse people "lazy underachievers"??
Could there maybe be other societal issues that come into play??
In fact, according to the survey released this morning by the Fannie Mae Foundation and United Way of Greater Los Angeles, half of people in Los Angeles said that they had taken in a friend or relative who would have otherwise become homeless. One third of Los Angeles residents who responded to the survey say there has been a time that they personally were worried that they may not have a place to live. In Los Angeles, fear of homelessness is greater than in the country as a whole -- 28% of Americans indicate they were at one point concerned that they may not have a place to live.
Thanks for the link, it proves that people will help others. I note how the news story lacks any bit of government support and still people were willing to take in a homeless person. 1 point to those people because I'm not sure thats a step I'd take, (unless it was family, a statistic not recorded in the story)
My opinion is that those who are out to defraud the system should be punished. You can't just choose not to work - that is wrong. Then again, why should everyone who needs that kind of "help" be tarnished with the same brush?
Crack down on the fraudsters, but make sure help is there for those who need it. It's not that hard....one simply cannot refuse to work and such people shouldn't be too hard to weed out.
Really? Look at Congress. An 11% approval rate, yet incumbents rarely lose.
The hard left refuses to accept the idea of personal accountability and that we all should be held accountable to some degree for bad decision making.
The hard right refuses to accept that some people are victims of circumstance. They had a great job, without warning the plant shutdown, and they lost everything.
There is a middle ground.
Some people look to the government to carry them indefinetly. They don't mind living in low income housing, living off welfare etc. No responcibility, no need to worry about a job, no need to worry about next weeks check. It comes every month like clockwork. Maybe work under the table for some extra cash. To them life is good.
Some folks hate every cent they take from the gov. They hate the feeling of not being able to do it by themselves and work hard to free themselves from this bondage, this stigma. Those folks I respect and believe we should help.
The problem is trying to identify who is who.....
Look at the social agencies. Many look at the job as a gravey train and have no interest in seeing people removed from the welfare roles. Too many get off the welfare and they might loose their job....
Politicians one and all. They have their special interest projects. Public welfare or corporate welfare one is the same as the other. Both have good points both have bad. Pork is pork... No matter the intended use.
$114,000 for alsaka to study a rodent problem? $700,000 to build a walking trail? Can't remember the state.... I wonder. If the state had to pay for that trail on their own would they still build it? I doubt it.
Tinman you are on a roll today with some good posts. I agree with you 100%. From the data I have seen and from the trends in society today, those in need due to layoffs and unemployment/serious illness/psychological issues caused in part by PTSD are in the majority. These people deserve help, and it could be many of us there someday. I don't see anyone advocating people should live off the government forever, and the work should be continued to get people assistance and off the public dole as soon as they can.
The hard left refuses to accept the idea of personal accountability and that we all should be held accountable to some degree for bad decision making.
The hard right refuses to accept that some people are victims of circumstance. They had a great job, without warning the plant shutdown, and they lost everything.
There is a middle ground.
Some people look to the government to carry them indefinetly. They don't mind living in low income housing, living off welfare etc. No responcibility, no need to worry about a job, no need to worry about next weeks check. It comes every month like clockwork. Maybe work under the table for some extra cash. To them life is good.
Some folks hate every cent they take from the gov. They hate the feeling of not being able to do it by themselves and work hard to free themselves from this bondage, this stigma. Those folks I respect and believe we should help.
The problem is trying to identify who is who.....
Look at the social agencies. Many look at the job as a gravey train and have no interest in seeing people removed from the welfare roles. Too many get off the welfare and they might loose their job....
Politicians one and all. They have their special interest projects. Public welfare or corporate welfare one is the same as the other. Both have good points both have bad. Pork is pork... No matter the intended use.
$114,000 for alsaka to study a rodent problem? $700,000 to build a walking trail? Can't remember the state.... I wonder. If the state had to pay for that trail on their own would they still build it? I doubt it.
The socialists try to make it sound so honorable, when, in fact, it's simple class envy. Instead of helping someone up the ladder, they'd rather bring others down. That way, the contrast is less and it seems as though something good has been done.
Well, my good friend, my point is that you (and others) might as well come right out and say just that (that the poor are just lazy bums / have all made bad decisions).
I wonder when the penny will drop...when it will finally sink in that not everyone is capable of success and wealth in today's society and that there will always be people who are left behind, through no fault of their own.
Certain people love to dress it up and dodge the issue, as opposed to admitting their true feelings. The thing is, people like me see right through the facade and the BS, so you can ramble on all you like about personal responsibility and bad choices until we enter into the next millennium as far as I'm concerned. I see right through the BS and the hidden agendas at play here, that's all.
Well I'm glad that you have no problem just putting words into mouths of others that didnt say, or even imply that as the truth. I'm glad your able to dictate my FEELINGS, and your able to just accuse everyone on the right of being heartless when the statistics and statements show just the oposite.
How about if I throw some words into your mouth..
What YOUR saying is that the poor are stupid, lazy, ilresponsible, unable to care for their children, cant read mortgage documents and unable to find jobs.
Now that you didnt say that and I FEEL better, why dont you go back and retract what I didnt say, and we can begin again.
Thanks for the link, it proves that people will help others. I note how the news story lacks any bit of government support and still people were willing to take in a homeless person. 1 point to those people because I'm not sure thats a step I'd take, (unless it was family, a statistic not recorded in the story)
Which is wonderful. I beleive it was "friend or family". Point being it could be just about anybody, and probably not all of these people, 1/3 of the population of Los Angeles, needed help just because they are lazy and underachievers.
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