The common argument I come across when I say that the government should do more for the homeless is that it is not the job of the government to do things like that. "People need to take care of themselves". That's what a friend of mine says each time we debate the issue. Actually not just that particular issue. Most of our discussions center around why the government should do less for these people. My friend, as you can probably tell, is a conservative. A Black Conservative. In fact he used to write a blog ( http://cjontherightside.blogspot.com/) and spew the usual rhetoric you often hear from Republicans. The sad thing is that often they are right. People SHOULD help themselves. Most probably do. With those who can't I don't understand why my tax dollars can't go to assisting them.
On this particular day (today) I got on the subway and was greeted by this person (I think this is a woman, but since she had her back to me for my entire ride I cannot tell). She (for argument sake) had the entire section of the car to herself even though she did not smell offensive. Generally offensive odor sections off the subway car. The temperature outside must have been in the upper 20s. I sat across from her for the entire ride lasting about six minutes.
The average person cannot do anything immediate about this except maybe pass a couple of dollars and perhaps some food. The only help she and most others in her situation can get is when people seriously pressure our elected officials to actually physically do something. PROVIDE more shelter. Correction, more SAFE shelter. Yes, people should help themselves, but what if you can't help yourself? What about mental illness? What about hose who are essentially unemployable? Why is it acceptable to punish those who cannot measure up to our standards? Why is it someone has to create a profit off these people before they will help them?
