Homelessness, despite its explosive increase in the past 30 years, still feels like an exception, an anomaly in the grand, prosperous and self-righteous tableau that is America. How can so many be living “on the street,” basically, in a country with so many resources and so comprehensive a political infrastructure? Liberalism causes otherwise rational people to defend the RIGHTS of the mentally ill, weird or addicted and largely uncivilized people to sleep in public places. Eventually, their rights to urinate and defecate in public places are also “recognized.” Due to some dislocation in the logical thinking of other liberals who consider themselves civilized (living in houses, indoor plumbing, decent ‘human’ activities and some form of productive wealth), residents of the same jurisdiction are permitted by virtue of the existence of other “rights,” to make their ways around the city, including eating in restaurants and entering various other businesses, in the nude. Once good sense is breeched, the uncrossable lines of civilized decency become harder and harder to discern.
To varying degrees, many municipalities have descended into some form of what San Francisco has become a leader of. Prior to the last 20 to 30 years western civilization, largely founded according to Judeo-Christian beliefs and ethics, was endeavoring to advance in terms of human civilization, habits and public, interactive, practices. That direction has reversed. That reversal seems to be centered in and controlled by liberals, leftists and socialists. Conservatives are distinctly unimpressed by these trends, if not disgusted – as seems Prudent.
This accelerating retreat from good sense makes almost every “civilized” resident very uncomfortable. It has seeped out into criminal justice to the point that criminals are coddled while ultra-liberal prosecutors expand the list of crimes for which punishment and retribution are no longer very important. But the trend started with rampant and financially-encouraged homelessness – all of which programs have failed despite the millions of explanations of success by those same liberal politicians. Liberal “government” has foresworn any moral judgment to the point that anywhere it can insert some “public” monies must also eliminate morality as a shared ethic.
The Prudent approach is to recognize that life is better, safer, cleaner, more productive and successful when the vast majority of the population – and its “governors” – share a basic morality. In such a civilized environment certain behaviors and practices are not allowed for sensible reasons of health, public safety, compassion and cleanliness. We can begin the return to civilization by ending the “root causes” of homelessness. This will require the enforcing of laws despite the chagrin of some who are incorrigible – both homeless and “normal.”
Block by block, street-sleepers have to be rounded up and held in temporary – emphasis on temporary – facilities for evaluation. Which of them are addicted? Which truly mentally ill? There won’t be any free needles or free drugs… only compassionate detox, physical clean-up and healthy food. Every person will be required to adhere to rules in order to eat, hunger being the universal motivator. Those who are clinically determined to be mentally ill will be treated, possibly medicated if it will help, and housed separately… depending on the nature of supportive bonds with others, mentally ill or not. Instead of spending tens of millions of dollars on better tents or other free stuff that facilitates living on the streets, every person will be rehabilitated to the best degree possible. Vocational training will be offered within controlled circumstances. For many this will be a refresher for skills that used to support them before addiction took over. Each will have to work in some way to earn his or her room and board. Each should also be offered contact with religious people, ministers, or others. There is always hope.
In a sense it is a program of second chances, but not a second chance to live on the street. For those whose mental illness can’t be controlled, proper institutionalization is needed – not “warehousing” of humans, modified assisted living. Nearly every state has a history of terrible handling of the mentally ill. It always offended Prudence to hear about bad treatment and terrible conditions that seemed to go on and on… for years and decades. Were those the only solutions human beings could come up with? Was there someone else who could be blamed for the cruelty and stupidity that marked so many mental hospitals?
No, it was us, the same people who threw up their hands and closed the awful facilities and “mainstreamed” mentally ill people. Every person living “homeless,” can be helped, rehabilitated made more healthy and given / offered new direction and opportunity to take good care of themselves. If your politicians don’t agree, get some new ones. Politicians who are willing to run on a platform of honesty would be the best place to start.
Take a look at: https://www.prudenceleadbetter.com/2019/12/26/new-life-town/