Not the Seattle I Remember

So you support treating homeless as a problem that needs state resources to rehabilitate? Very progressive of you. Did I get that correct?

 

I don't have a problem with a state helping them but not enabling them. So back to the point, what did you think of my suggestions

 

Closing the border would cost billions. And still wouldn't be 100% successful. No country on Earth has successfully patrolled their border. And our borders combined are thousands of miles to the South and North. And that's just land. Doesn't include water.

Legalizing marijuana nationally so it could be taxed and businesses could take credit would help. With the tax money, we could fund rehab centers, which would help get those who want to get off the street do so.

We also need more mental health support. 50% of all homeless have some sort of major mental health issue that needs professional attention. A portion of these people might be able to hold down long term jobs with proper mental health care, which would help get them off the street.

Bottom line, there is no simple answer to homelessness. And we can't force people to live where we want them, and many homeless choose not to get care, choose to be addicted to alcohol and drugs, and basically choose to live on the streets. What right do we have to force citizens to move? We do have pandering and loitering laws, but show me a major city that doesn't have a homeless population the US. Especially cities with relatively decent weather. Seattle may be north, but with the Sound, it rarely snows, and lows are usually in the 40's or 50's 9 months out of the year.

As for Seattle, it's a great city, even with its problems. But what some people consider problems, others consider charm. Like the park in the city center that has constant protests pretty much 24/7. Or the area just north of the stadiums that is the city's original skid row, which has a fascinating underground area, and I highly suggest a tour if/when you visit.

And if you're a beer fan, Seattle is home to my favorite beer. Mac N Jack is a local brewery only, and their Amber Ale is fantastic. Unfortunately, you can only get it in Seattle and select areas of Portland. There's a local Phoenix restaurant from a Seattle transplant that has a number of local brews, and when we asked about Mac N Jack, he had us sign a list of people requesting it, which had over 500 signatures already.

 

I'm a conservative/libertarian from the South and I prefer my peanuts boiled and grits - not tofu. That said, I've traveled to Seattle and San Francisco a couple times a few years back and I love those cities. Never wanted to live there, but those cities were beautiful, eclectic, and the people are very nice/energetic/interesting/etc. I hate to see the stories about what is going on there now - and, yes, I take some of those stories with a grain of salt. I still have friends out there and they confirm a lot of what is being reported. Just sad. I want to go back but I'm more likely to travel elsewhere until I hear differently from people that I trust.

 

It's interesting to see and hear the very different accounts and feelings from people who travel to various places. Around here, New Orleans is often discussed. Some people have said they won't go anymore while others have a great time and report it was the same to them as ever - at least in the areas they were.

 

\

Same old BS from you

 

It's called the truth. The Trump wall would cost billions just to build. And billions more to maintain. And for all the bluster Trump said about illegals, he accomplished nothing when it came to stopping undocumented immigrants. If you want to throw away billions upon billions and accomplish nothing, that's on you, supporting huge, government waste.

As for homeless, 30% have severe mental illness, and 50% have some sort of substance dependency issue. These people require help that unless they become a danger to themselves or to society, we cannot force them to receive. Unless you want to infringe on their rights.

But if you do want to spend billions, better spent on rehab and mental health help for the homeless. Still won't solve the problem entirely, but would do some good. Much better than wasting resources on protecting thousands of miles of border that wouldn't work.

 

I don’t think much of them honestly. I asked you about helping struggling people and you use the opportunity to rant about favorite right wing nut talking points. Same story with you guys. Blame brown people and protect Putin’s interests. Awesome.

 

Reading comp not too sharp.
Get back to the charts man. It’s in your wheelhouse.

 

No content still from you. Empty shell.

 

No graphs from you. Nothing burger.

 

And more nothing.

 

It could be if people who actually cared more for solutions than oneupsmanship participated.

 

this is a good discussion on what Houston has done

(They also turned on the heat).

How Houston Cut Its Homeless Population by Nearly Two-Thirds

 

I vote for Ronald Reagan, but he initiated the homeless issue when he shut down the mental hospitals promising to create more community based homes. He never did, and no one did after him. Before that, it was just about non existent.

When we as a country understand that mental illness, along with addiction, is a disease, then we can start taking care of this big problem we have as a country.

 

That’s a terrible idea.

 

Part of the issue is people no matter how crazy have the legal right to live how they like(unless they are truly an immediate danger to themselves or others).
It’s a very complicated issue.

 

If there are people who choose to be homeless, they make up an insignificant percentage of that population.

You're right, it is a very complicated issue. The breakdown is head spinning, but with 20-40% being people with mental or drug related issues, it seems we could lower the numbers significantly if we had real programs for these people to go for help, like we used to.

Homelessness Myth #14: They Choose to Be Homeless | The Homeless Hub

The 12 Biggest Myths about Homelessness in America