I got it mixed up, I guess. I was feeling embarassed for T_J but I suppose my sympathies really should have been going to Mrs. JB. Mrs. JB, I'm really sorry. It must have hurt to be argued under the table so thoroughly by T_J. I hope you can find the strength to continue posting here after such a humiliating experience.
Here's a fun fact that was on CBC Radio the other day (well, I guess it's not really fun.... but anyway): New York city is cracking down on homeless people who sleep in public places like park benches. So, the city is sending out patrol wagons to round up these people and drop them off at local shelters for the night so they aren't sleeping out in public. On the average day, 35,000 homeless people are taken to shelters by these patrol wagons. 35,000. That isn't even counting the ones who are hiding away in alleys, etc.. and don't get picked up. That's a lot of hobos.
That is great news, Fadeaway. A very helpful poster sent me a private email regarding the homeless situation which I've been worried about near my home. They provided me a Houston Police Department non-emergency number to call. I plan on calling the number and having a similar "round-up" enacted in my area. No one deserves to be threatened while sitting in their car at an intersection. Nor does any tax-paying citizen deserve to have their parks overrun by the homeless.
How have they threatened you? It surely didn't have anything to do with your heart since we all know you don't have one. And, how is two "no big deal" but 4 is "critical mass"?
The homeless in this area employ very aggressive begging techniques, whereby they come very close to your car window with their sign. I do not feel as though I need to run the risk of 1) coming in contact with them (health risk) 2) them damaging my vehicle Their camp can run anywhere from 4-6, and it includes a dog. This constitutes a critical mass, in my opinion, because it allows two of them to occupy the two busy corners of the intersection, while the others are lounging in the park. This way, not only are drivers disturbed, but park goers are distrubed as well -- simultaneously.
Is this still in reference to the Studemont/Allen Parkway intersection? Have you actually been physically threatened? (I'm not trying to be an ass, I'm genuinely interested). I'm at that intersection nearly every day. While I almost always encounter a homeless person there, I've never had any type of incident. When I talk to them, they are almost always nice and polite. I agree that if a homeless person (or any person) is abusive and/or possibly physically dangerous, they should be taken into custody. However, I don't believe they are threatening by their mere presence alone.
Dude, I lived in Austin for 7 years where nearly every street corner as a homeless person on it. Not once in those 7 years has anything happened. Get over it.
Safety first. It only takes once. With the high rate of mental disorders among the homeless, they are totally unpredictable. Not to mention the fact that by allowing them to stay and collect money from people, they are in effect discouraging them from finding a job and contributing to society.
Ok, TJ, I took a drive down by this oh-so-terrifying intersection to see for myself. I saw a couple of OLD MEN and a dog. The one man with the "Hungry. Homeless. God Bless." sign looked to weigh all of about 120 pounds and had a long gray beard. Talk about menacing! Of course, this was at 8pm at night on a Thursday. In addition to the homeless men, I saw joggers, skateboarders, bikers and a couple who were taking nighttime photos of the skyline. Are they stupid or just really brave? The problem I generally have with the arguments that homeless are dangerous or welfare mothers are draining the country of tax money or the horrors of illegal immigration is that it is picking such an incredibly easy target. None of these groups have any voice in the public or in politicis. They have no money. They have no support groups. All they have is people ignorning them or calling them "the problem with society." The real problem with society is that homelessness exists in the first place and there doesn't seem to be enough compassion and outright disgust with the plight of them to take the problem seriously. We'd rather complain or just act oblivious. That's so much easier than looking at the problem and realizing that there are actual HUMAN BEINGS starving to death on the streets of the richest country in the history of humanity. If how we care for our least fortunate is a good measure of society (and I submit that it is), we are doing a really crappy job. Much like the over-response of suburbanites to erect giant fences and gates around their entire subdivisions while still relying on high tech alarm systems in their homes that rival those found at the Smithsonian, the fear and loathing rained down upon the less fortunate in our society is not only sad, it's nonsense. As any cop will tell you, homeless people are at FAR greater risk from the giant SUV's that barrel down on them every day than we, the passengers of the SUV's, are from the poor slob standing there hoping for a bit of kindness and compassion to sustain their otherwise demeaning existence. If this is the biggest thing you have to be afraid of in your life, you've got it easy. My advice to you would be to give the homeless a break. I'm sure there is something better you could be doing with your time...like maybe helping them. Or, maybe not. I hope that, God forbid, you ever end up homeless, the person on the other side of that tinted glass isn't as dis-compassionate as you seem to be.
Jeff -- We have *huge* fundamental differences in philosophy. I personally find it disgusting to emphasize the welfare of the lowest rungs of society when these people add virtually nothing to the welfare others. The 'maxi-min' philosophy that you are espousing is not the philosophy that has led to America's ascent. Great countries are built by visionary leaders, courageous risk-takers, and entrepreunerial thinkers (among a host of other factors). It really sickens me to see sympathy directed towards these people. These people have no voice in politics not because they have no money, but because they have no motivation. They have no desire to find employment, no desire to fit into social life, and no desire to contribute to the community they live in. People giving them money on the street only exacerbates these problems. I work hard for every dollar I earn. Every dollar I make is rightfully mine. I owe no one any favors, especially those choose not work at all. I owe them no sympathy either. The demagoguery you use regarding rich people watching the homeless starve and SUV's posing greater risks to the world is just another attempt to divert attention away from the obvious threat that the homeless pose to the well-being of a community. Many of these people have drug problems, mental disorders, additions to alcohol, and backgrounds of crime. For them to be camping near my home is totally unacceptable. They are unpredictable. Desparate people will do desparate things, and I don't want that in my neighborhood. Many feel threatened by their presence, especially after dark. If even one person is threatened, then what they are doing is wrong. I pay to live in my neighborhood. They don't. I pay taxes to support the park where they camp out. I have a right to voice my opinion on an issue that I am contributing my tax dollars towards. I find this to be a very reasonable request.
Unpredictable? Again, I ask you, as many times as you've driven by homeless people at an intersection, how many times have you seen them do anything violent? How do you expect them to apply for a job when they have no home? Are you really cold-hearted enough to believe that every homeless person is there because they have no motivation? Do you really believe they want to be homeless? Or do you really think they don't like it, but are too lazy to do anything about it? That's a horrible outlook, and honestly, it's wrong. You point out that many of these individuals have mental problems, addictions, and crime backgrounds. For one thing, it sounds like a growing number of corporate offices these days. What would be your solution for these people? I'm sure it wouldn't be counseling and rehabilitation through various charities and organizations. That would probably take some of your precious tax money. Your solution would probably be to round them all up and send them to the Fifth Ward or something. Regardless, I imagine that you're doing pretty good for yourself. Through your posts, I gather that you've got a pretty decent job and you live in a pretty nice area of town. I could be wrong of course, you could be scraping to get by. However, if you're not, I applaud you for doing so despite those lazy bums that are trying to bring you down. I tell you what, I'll send you a check for $5 a year, since that's probably much more than your taxes that go to that park. You can use that money to buy a bat to beat up a puppy with or something.
Is he thinking of Humanity and decency or is he thinking of all the MONEY he will make! $50,000 for a 10'x10' HUT incl fittings should cost no more than $10,000 to make at the Max. He should be run out of San Francisco!
I'm not sure why people are still arguing with T_J. He's obviously too far gone to be won back with argument. So, I won't argue. I find it strange that T_J chose to live where he has, considering his philosophy. This is a re-gentrifying area and part of that process involves clashes between the wealthy and the impoverished. It is philosophies such as these that prompted the creation of our outlying neighborhoods and the little township-protectorates where one can isolate themselves from the sufferings of the world. I would expect to find T_J in The Woodlands or Bunker Hill or West U., not in an inner-city neighborhood. I have to say I wonder why he chose to live where he has.
i can honestly say i feel sorry for you...i hope you'll develop a more charitable spirit with time. i think charles dickens wrote a book about you.
Jeff you have no humility for your Sisters and Brothers. You are typical of the Greed of America. I will pray for you!
Ding ding ding. Give this man a stuffed animal, or plastic prize of his choice. Sincerely, San Francisco tax payer still looking for good humane solutions
Just a few points of information on the homeless. 25% of the urban homeless are under 18. 40% of homeless men have served in the armed forces. 20-25% of all homeless people suffer from some form of mental illness 22% left their last place of residence because of domestic violence 38% of the homeless population are families with children. http://www.nationalhomeless.org/who.html
Trader J, I'm not going to pile on about your cold heart or anything. In some ways, I applaud you for being able and being bold enough to clearly express the kind of distilled capitalistic view of our nation that many hold quietly dear. It is in some ways Utilitarian, even though I vehemently disagree personally. However, how do you respond to the statistic of 40% of homeless people having served this nation? So, of those infamous four people under that tree, one or two of them may well be vets. From your other posting in political threads, I know you have a very high regard for our nation's military folks.
