Being homeless means you get to meet nice bleeding heart liberals.

My manager at the Wal-mart I work at who shall remain nameless, Regina, yelled at the homeless Vietnamese woman who spends most of her day on the grassy lot adjacent our store. The woman had come in to, and successfully purchased, a blanket. She was being yelled at because the previous day she was banned from the store. I asked around to find out why.

"Because some customers called the police on her because she scared them."

I'm livid now. Don't give them money, sure, but don't treat them like garbage.

Rashnu: skullkrusher: I don't see the connection between "parasitic" lawyers or financial workers and giving houses to people because they're addicts

Just a general comment on the fact that our moral outrage at the rewarding of societal uselessness is so selective when there's so much of it going around. The analogy does break down though when it comes to dealing with the perpetrators of things like regulatory capture and gaming of the legal and financial systems. Not sure what the harm reduction strategy would be there. Make them go live in Somalia?

Difference is, lawyers actually provide a service by advising the members of society on the laws of society and are paid a fee out of private pockets while giving houses to people because they are addicts is nothing at all like that even remotely. See my confusion?

wildcardjack: The thing about social workers and poverty....

If they were successful they'd be out of a job. So it benefits them to be just a little less than helpful.

Ha ha ha, if you think people go into social work just to get a job, you're a damn lunatic.

iaazathot: So the whackadoodles argue and argue that taking care of the poor should happen through private charities and organizations, and now they want to close those down too?

Nope, fark you assholes.

We have a lot of homeless in our little town, partially because we have a VA that is a mental health center. I have even had to almost get in a physical fight in my own office building with a homeless guy who wandered in the back door into our kitchen.

In no way would I suggest we shut down the services to them. That is sheer lunacy and political attention whoring.

no. This is a story about the Mayor of a single, small city in California.

Nintenfreak: My manager at the Wal-mart I work at who shall remain nameless, Regina, yelled at the homeless Vietnamese woman who spends most of her day on the grassy lot adjacent our store. The woman had come in to, and successfully purchased, a blanket. She was being yelled at because the previous day she was banned from the store. I asked around to find out why.

"Because some customers called the police on her because she scared them."

I'm livid now. Don't give them money, sure, but don't treat them like garbage.

Having been to Walmart how exactly can you tell the difference between the homeless and their regular customers?

HakunaMatata: People in Orange County are self-important simpletons and assholes??? Say it aint so!

*eye roll*

Yes, many of the residents of that area believe that if you eliminate a treatment, the disease just magically goes away! They are THAT oblivious to anything other than themselves.

SOUTH Orange County, thank you very much. Don't lump us North Countiers in with those planned community nutjobs down there.

The guy sounds like a douche who doesn't like seeing homeless around his precious South Coast Plaza district.

Fart_Machine: Nintenfreak: My manager at the Wal-mart I work at who shall remain nameless, Regina, yelled at the homeless Vietnamese woman who spends most of her day on the grassy lot adjacent our store. The woman had come in to, and successfully purchased, a blanket. She was being yelled at because the previous day she was banned from the store. I asked around to find out why.

"Because some customers called the police on her because she scared them."

I'm livid now. Don't give them money, sure, but don't treat them like garbage.

Having been to Walmart how exactly can you tell the difference between the homeless and their regular customers?

Regular customers have mobility scooters.

Fart_Machine: The guy sounds like a douche who doesn't like seeing homeless around his precious South Coast Plaza district.

you like seeing homeless people? What are you some sort of sociopath?

skullkrusher: Difference is, lawyers actually provide a service by advising the members of society on the laws of society and are paid a fee out of private pockets while giving houses to people because they are addicts is nothing at all like that even remotely. See my confusion?

I purposely adjectivally limited my brush stroke to not encompass all lawyers and financial sector employees. "I swear I can quit selling bundled derivatives anytime I want!" That's being glib of course, but to think there are no bad actors among the legal and financial professions who by gaming the system are being rewarded at the expense of the public seems a bit naive. Street addicts provide the service of giving perspective that diminishes my own problems (there, but for the Grace...) or alternately giving the moral satisfaction of judging them and finding them wanting.

DarwiOdrade: skullkrusher: Fart_Machine: The guy sounds like a douche who doesn't like seeing homeless around his precious South Coast Plaza district.

you like seeing homeless people? What are you some sort of sociopath?

Right - because that's exactly what Fart_Machine said. Did you strain something reaching for that one?

it was a joke so no, I didn't strain anything. Does it hurt to be so stupid?

randomjsa: It's not as simple as some of you like to make it.

Do you want to pay for a public park only to have it over run with homeless people? There are a lot of alcoholics, drug users, and mentally unstable people among the homeless, to say nothing of sanitation and other issues. The same thing goes for a public library. The point is that when you create a system of free meals, it doesn't just invite the people who are down on their luck and need to scrape by for awhile... It invites people who are perpetually homeless for lots of no so good reasons.

The other side of this is that they're not going away and if they're not in this spot they will be in another. What's the proper solution? Is the homeless shelter/soup kitchen really the best we can do? How can we solve the other problems associated with it if it is without shutting it down?

Why isn't the solution TO HELP THOSE HOMELESS PEOPLE BECOME NOT HOMELESS? You selfish, ignorant piece of shiat.

DarwiOdrade: skullkrusher: DarwiOdrade: skullkrusher: Fart_Machine: The guy sounds like a douche who doesn't like seeing homeless around his precious South Coast Plaza district.

you like seeing homeless people? What are you some sort of sociopath?

Right - because that's exactly what Fart_Machine said. Did you strain something reaching for that one?

it was a joke so no, I didn't strain anything. Does it hurt to be so stupid?

Not as much as it hurts watching your lame attempts at jokes.

I took your joke seriously and now I feel silly so let us pretend it is your fault. that's always a convincing response.

"I hate the homeless."

TwoBeersOneCan: wildcardjack: The thing about social workers and poverty....

If they were successful they'd be out of a job. So it benefits them to be just a little less than helpful.

Ha ha ha, if you think people go into social work just to get a job, you're a damn lunatic.

If you want to make big bucks in the psych field you gotta go into Medical Research or I/O Psych and run an HR Dept for a major company. The starting wage for the Social Work field is $30k and that's WITH a masters degree. The helping side of psych is also the poor side of psych.

thamike: skullkrusher: Difference is, lawyers actually provide a service by advising the members of society on the laws of society and are paid a fee out of private pockets while giving houses to people because they are addicts is nothing at all like that even remotely. See my confusion?

"Public defender." If you have ever been to jail, you have met one.

I have and I haven't. I wouldn't call public defenders useless to society, would you?

HakunaMatata: People in Orange County are self-important simpletons and assholes??? Say it aint so!

*eye roll*

Yes, many of the residents of that area believe that if you eliminate a treatment, the disease just magically goes away! They are THAT oblivious to anything other than themselves.

The liberal mindset at work. Anything that is not of government creation cannot and must not succeed.

DarwiOdrade: skullkrusher: DarwiOdrade: skullkrusher: DarwiOdrade: skullkrusher: Fart_Machine: The guy sounds like a douche who doesn't like seeing homeless around his precious South Coast Plaza district.

you like seeing homeless people? What are you some sort of sociopath?

Right - because that's exactly what Fart_Machine said. Did you strain something reaching for that one?

it was a joke so no, I didn't strain anything. Does it hurt to be so stupid?

Not as much as it hurts watching your lame attempts at jokes.

I took your joke seriously and now I feel silly so let us pretend it is your fault. that's always a convincing response.

something something Poe's law

That's another awesome refuge for idiots.

Nemo's Brother: HakunaMatata: People in Orange County are self-important simpletons and assholes??? Say it aint so!

*eye roll*

Yes, many of the residents of that area believe that if you eliminate a treatment, the disease just magically goes away! They are THAT oblivious to anything other than themselves.

The liberal mindset at work. Anything that is not of government creation cannot and must not succeed.

Someone didn't read the article.

Halli: Nemo's Brother: HakunaMatata: People in Orange County are self-important simpletons and assholes??? Say it aint so!

*eye roll*

Yes, many of the residents of that area believe that if you eliminate a treatment, the disease just magically goes away! They are THAT oblivious to anything other than themselves.

The liberal mindset at work. Anything that is not of government creation cannot and must not succeed.

Someone didn't read the article.

It makes no difference if he read it or not. He's going to believe his opinionated world narrative regardless of any facts.

Eatin' Queer Fetuses for Jesus: Why isn't the solution TO HELP THOSE HOMELESS PEOPLE BECOME NOT HOMELESS? You selfish, ignorant piece of shiat.

The moron who felt he had to "prove something" by showing everyone he has me on ignore was amusing enough since the most sure fire way to prove you're in a weak position is to refuse to listen to any other view point but you're taking the cake on the 'laugh worthy' comments here.

You're free to make any suggestion you like in so far as how to solve the homeless problem and after you completely fail just like everyone else that has tried to solve that problem we can get around to talking about the problem here like adults. Presumably you will actually be an adult in both mind and body by that point.

jso2897: Yes - but that's hard. Just shutting it down is easy. And it appeals to certain mentalities. I suspect that Hizzoner may have future political ambitions, and may be "staking out a position".
There's no good reason for doing it - most of the people these charities serve are not homeless - most are local retirees and working poor who live in Covina.

And nobody has a problem with the retirees but you're not addressing the unavoidable reality. There is a problem with homeless people taking over parks and other public areas and like it or not there are a lot of homeless people who are something besides perfectly nice people with nowhere else to go.

Some are like that. No doubt but there are a large enough number who aren't and the free meals attract the poor retirees and hard luck cases as well as the drunks, mentally unstable, drug addicts and just plain bad people. is there a way to filter the good from the bad? Even if there is, it's completely subjective, maybe that guy there is a mean drunk but that one over there is a drunk but not really creating an issue.

There are problems associated with soup kitchens. You have to acknowledge that and figure out a way to deal with the problem. One solution is, yes, shut it down but is that the best and only solution? That just means these people will go somewhere else. A meals on wheels program would probably help the 'poor but not homeless' retirees but that doesn't do much for the non-problematic homeless.

skullkrusher: DarwiOdrade: skullkrusher: Fart_Machine: The guy sounds like a douche who doesn't like seeing homeless around his precious South Coast Plaza district.

you like seeing homeless people? What are you some sort of sociopath?

Right - because that's exactly what Fart_Machine said. Did you strain something reaching for that one?

it was a joke so no, I didn't strain anything. Does it hurt to be so stupid?

Really bringing the A-game today.

randomjsa: And nobody has a problem with the retirees but you're not addressing the unavoidable reality. There is a problem with homeless people taking over parks and other public areas and like it or not there are a lot of homeless people who are something besides perfectly nice people with nowhere else to go.

Suggestions? Feel free to think outside the cardboard box.

/I assume this is the part where we look shiftily around and stage whisper whisper
//"well, would anyone really like even notice if they just kinda disappeared"
///the greater good

randomjsa: Eatin' Queer Fetuses for Jesus: Why isn't the solution TO HELP THOSE HOMELESS PEOPLE BECOME NOT HOMELESS? You selfish, ignorant piece of shiat.

The moron who felt he had to "prove something" by showing everyone he has me on ignore was amusing enough since the most sure fire way to prove you're in a weak position is to refuse to listen to any other view point but you're taking the cake on the 'laugh worthy' comments here.

You're free to make any suggestion you like in so far as how to solve the homeless problem and after you completely fail just like everyone else that has tried to solve that problem we can get around to talking about the problem here like adults. Presumably you will actually be an adult in both mind and body by that point.

jso2897: Yes - but that's hard. Just shutting it down is easy. And it appeals to certain mentalities. I suspect that Hizzoner may have future political ambitions, and may be "staking out a position".
There's no good reason for doing it - most of the people these charities serve are not homeless - most are local retirees and working poor who live in Covina.

And nobody has a problem with the retirees but you're not addressing the unavoidable reality. There is a problem with homeless people taking over parks and other public areas and like it or not there are a lot of homeless people who are something besides perfectly nice people with nowhere else to go.

Some are like that. No doubt but there are a large enough number who aren't and the free meals attract the poor retirees and hard luck cases as well as the drunks, mentally unstable, drug addicts and just plain bad people. is there a way to filter the good from the bad? Even if there is, it's completely subjective, maybe that guy there is a mean drunk but that one over there is a drunk but not really creating an issue.

There are problems associated with soup kitchens. You have to acknowledge that and figure out a way to deal with the problem. One solution is, yes, shut it down but is that the best and only solution? That just means these people will go somewhere else. A meals on wheels program would probably help the 'poor but not homeless' retirees but that doesn't do much for the non-problematic homeless.

Why don't you ask General Eric Shinseki about the techniques he is using to end veteran homelessness by 2015? I'm sure that closing soup kitchens in an attempt to make them go away isn't part of the solution. Oh, that's right, I forgot, you will probably ignore him like you did when he told you the truth about how many soldiers were needed for your illegal invasion of Iraq.

Rashnu: Just give them housing straight off the bat: no rules or having to attend counseling or stop drinking or any strings attached.

The way I've heard it described is that the housing allows them to continue being drunks, but limits how much they can drink per day. Residents have to go to the office to pick up their rations.

J Noble Daggett: Will he be closing a few hospitals to cure cancer?

"It would go a long way to solving the problem of" cancer-stricken people walking around, making the city look less healthy, and lowering property values if they just shut down the hospitals like you suggested.

It won't cure cancer, but it would cause the cancer people to go away to another city. And that's what's important, right?

For a nation that talks so much about Christian values and how much God loves us, we sure do shiat all over the poor and downtrodden every chance we get.

And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45 "He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Hobodeluxe: 34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45 "He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Paul never said any of that shiat. Now go be celibate somewhere!

kevinatilusa: J Noble Daggett: Will he be closing a few hospitals to cure cancer?

"It would go a long way to solving the problem of" cancer-stricken people walking around, making the city look less healthy, and lowering property values if they just shut down the hospitals like you suggested.

It won't cure cancer, but it would cause the cancer people to go away to another city. And that's what's important, right?

or maybe they just wait until you're gone and break in and steal your crap? if they go to jail then they get fed,have a roof over their head and free medical care on your dime. your move...

It's a myth that welfare makes people less productive. You know what makes people less productive? Food/Shelter insecurity.

A funny thing happens when you guarantee those two things: a nation of checkout clerks and burger flippers turns into a nation of teachers and engineers. Go ahead and call it an entitlement, as far as I'm concerned, a person born in a country with as much wealth as the US should be entitled to food and shelter.

born_yesterday: Paul never said any of that shiat. Now go be celibate somewhere!

so you're rewriting the gospels now to fit your selfish ideology?

randomjsa: It's not as simple as some of you like to make it.

Do you want to pay for a public park only to have it over run with homeless people? There are a lot of alcoholics, drug users, and mentally unstable people among the homeless, to say nothing of sanitation and other issues. The same thing goes for a public library. The point is that when you create a system of free meals, it doesn't just invite the people who are down on their luck and need to scrape by for awhile... It invites people who are perpetually homeless for lots of no so good reasons.

The other side of this is that they're not going away and if they're not in this spot they will be in another. What's the proper solution? Is the homeless shelter/soup kitchen really the best we can do? How can we solve the other problems associated with it if it is without shutting it down?

So why isn't this guy proposing a place to house the mentally ill? Why isn't he proposing drug treatment? No, he wants to starve them out of the area, even if it means some old people go hungry, too. It really is that simple.