I just have to ask...read with caution! (Reagan, health care, Canada)
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Location: The Chatterdome in La La Land, CaliFUNia
39,031 posts, read 23,060,835 times
Reputation: 36027
Quote:
Originally Posted by elisaa
I understand your strong feelings about this and glad for everyones comments at the same time there are many out there with mental illness which is out of their control and getting medications on a consistant basis can be difficult and the first step to stablizing anyone is adequate shelter and diet to get them on track.
I agree but our laws do not allow us to force homeless into shelters. Many homeless folks do utilize the shelters but there are those who refuse to use the shelters because they want to live by their own rules. Many liberal organizations in California have fought for "homeless" rights to live on the streets so cities can be sued if they attempt to force a homeless person to seek shelter. This is why Los Angeles has an extremely large homeless population.
Location: The Chatterdome in La La Land, CaliFUNia
39,031 posts, read 23,060,835 times
Reputation: 36027
Quote:
Originally Posted by elisaa
Interesting thoughts, not all of these life styles are self imposed!
I agree and many homeless folks suffer from mental illness. However, we are limited in our abilities to make them seek help against their will as they have "rights" to live on the streets.
That maybe so...however that country has been supported for years by other countries to invest in education employment infrastructure etc. Where did the funds go and who's accountable?
Why is it Americans and their counter part Canadians are able to dig so deeply into their pockets to help victims in other countries yet have no desire to help the homeless guy walking past their house each day or the kid that just lost their parents or the women thrown out to the street by her husband or the family who just lost everything they own? Hasn't anyone heard that you need to clean the **** in your back yard before cleaning others? It doesn't make sense! I would rather have a strong healthy neighbor who can look to me and me to him than be so alone in the world that no one recognizes when I'm desperate and can give me a hand and that is how things used to be...neighbors supported each other they didn't turn their backs and ignore what was in front of them and that is how strong communities were built and lasted. I know other people from other countries need help but doesn't anyone think it's time for their governments to start being responsable and accountable to their people? We can't manage the affairs of the world without managing the affairs in our own yard and I think their are a lot of talk show hypocrites and stars who have more mouth and little concern for what is going on under their noses in their own back yards. There are people homeless and starving in the US and CA just as worthy of food & shelter as those in other countries. I make no apology...it's my opinion!
I think a lot of people put the blame on homeless and other disadvantaged people for their predicament. Whereas, when a natural disaster strikes, the victims are totally blameless.
I am not saying that the attitude that homeless people are "at fault" is right. This topic has been revisited many times in this forum and I am not UNSYMPATHETIC to the plight of the unemployed, homeless, poor, disadvantaged, etc. However, I can say that I personally know of many people who do nothing to improve their life, even though there are many opportunities out there for them to do so.
Americans and Canadians seem to have a greater compassion for people who do not have the alternatives/benefits to crawl out of poverty than those that do.
I can give the homeless guy on the corner money and he will be there the next day asking for more. I can give money to support a relief effort for a disaster and can only HOPE it's being put to good use.
I've learned that I can give money away indefinitely and all it does is bring more pleas for money.
Now I have my chosen charities that I donate to regularly, groups that I feel do the most good for the most needy of people. Again, I can only HOPE but short of moving someone into my house and taking care of them personally it's really all I can do. And I've even done that in a way by helping out a classmate of my daughters over the last 8 years.
I'm not speaking about forcing people into shelters that are overcrowded and dangerous for the most part. And the social systems in both US and Canada are demeaning to everyone except immigrants with no ID etc. Example...I know someone near and dear who is disabled, she went for assistance, it took a year and three letters from three specialists to prove she was disabled after already being on disability for some years previous. While waiting on the bureaucrats who already had a lengthy file...she lost her home and and her dignity. Another example...I walked into social services to make application. As I stood waiting a couple came forward for the same reason. I had to show proof of who I was...they claimed to have come from another country (middle east) and stated they had no ID! how'd they make it through customs at the airport with no ID? Then they were ushered into a room and walked out with first and last month rent for an apt...a start up fee for furniture, food etc. and money for transit! They were in and out within an hour. I was rejected and was there for the better part of three hours. The reason for my rejection (unknown?)
I can give the homeless guy on the corner money and he will be there the next day asking for more. I can give money to support a relief effort for a disaster and can only HOPE it's being put to good use.
I've learned that I can give money away indefinitely and all it does is bring more pleas for money.
Now I have my chosen charities that I donate to regularly, groups that I feel do the most good for the most needy of people. Again, I can only HOPE but short of moving someone into my house and taking care of them personally it's really all I can do.
And that's a great idea. I'm not saying that people should give away their hard earned dollars but what have the governments been doing with the tax dollars coming into them to help remedy the situation? The IRS and CRA are taking loads from people along with the banks who charge us interest to hold accounts on money we loan to them! That's what we're doing when we make a deposit...we are loaning the bank and they should be paying us fees!
I'm didn't ask this question to make anyone feel badly...only to get people to question themselves, governments and each other.
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