I think we need to distinguish here between those who are homeless and those who are what we used to refer to in days past as "hobos". To me, the "homeless" tag implies someone has the desire and will to escape their current situation and once again have a home. But there are a lot of folks out there who are living on the street because that's what they want, or perhaps because they don't hope for more. The guy who panhandles for enough cash for a bottle of Maddog 20/20 isn't the same as the family who's home was swept away by Katrina. Let's help those who need and want our help and leave alone those who've chosen a transient lifestyle.
JohnSmallberries | Email | Homepage | 08.21.06 - 12:16 pm | #

Which Democratic Party website did you search? I got different results from dnc.org or democrats.org, and searching the sites on Google instead of their own search engines produced dozens of results. Same thing for gop.com or rnc.org.
Hei Lun Chan | Email | Homepage | 08.21.06 - 8:49 pm | #

I believe I searched dnc.org, but it was late at night and I was on my second martini, so I can't be positive.

As for Mr. Smallberries, I would ask how exactly he proposes to distinguish between the two when doling (sp?) out help.
Sebastian Haff | Email | Homepage | 08.22.06 - 12:29 am | #

The problem with saying that many homeless people can't be "helped" is that you've defined "help" too narrowly. It's true that they can't be helped just be giving them money or jobs. But the many homeless people who are mentally ill could be helped by receiving treatment for their mental illness; then maybe they would be capable of getting a job, or of making rational decisions about how to spend their money.

I think that we really would like to be able to help the homeless by offering them money or jobs because it is so much easier than trying to treat their mental illnesses or addictions. How do you get a crazy homeless person to take every dose of their medication and return to a clinic at a scheduled time for a refill and a checkup? I have no idea. I think that politicians in both parties are not willing to admit that they have no idea either, and so they either have to give up on the issue, or offer simplistic solutions that they know will not really work.
Crazy | Email | Homepage | 08.22.06 - 12:44 am | #