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> public health crisis Is there any evidence of public health consequences, much less a crisis. This argument looks suspiciously like the rationalizations long
by forapurpose 8y ago
> public health crisis
Is there any evidence of public health consequences, much less a crisis. This argument looks suspiciously like the rationalizations long made for people to discriminate against those they feel uncomfortable around.
- otterley 8y agoYou're aware that human waste carries pathogens, right?
- yourapostasy 8y agoBasic public sanitation measures, including isolating human waste from open air spaces, is the most significant factor to increased average lifespan than medical technology. Reverse that in even just one of the legs of basic sanitation and you invite in a host of (in America) extraordinarily expensive pathogenic consequences. Expensive to treat and expensive to prophylactically ward off after an outbreak starts. Like code defects, it is magnitudes cheaper to fix earlier in the development pipeline.
- pm90 8y agoAbsolutely not. Getting rid of human waste is one of the most important issues in developing countries precisely because of the public health effects it has: transmitting pathogens, contaminating water supplies etc. It isn't hard to see that being the case in an Urban area like SF, especially since the density of people is so much greater.
- forapurpose 8y agoI know why human waste is dangerous. I asked if there is evidence that there is such a problem in SF, and if there is evidence of that problem being a health "crisis". So far, no evidence is cited in this thread - which certainly doesn't mean there isn't any. It does seem like the ideal talking point - it's disgusting, a bit frightening, and thus shifts readers from reason to a strong emotional reaction. Let's try to shift back. If there's evidence of a problem, it absolutely should be addressed.
- Redoubts 8y agohttps://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Diseased-Streets-472430013.html https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Diseased-Streets-47243...
- forapurpose 8y agoThanks! That might be the most valuable thing posted on this thread. Still, some research would be a lot better than journalists' observations. It seems to me that porta-potties, and some needle-safe trash cans, would be cost-effective, temporary solutions.
- bigbluedots 8y agoThere is human shit and needles all over the streets and you're arguing there may be no public health consequences?