3 ms·

I agree with you to an extent - but you cant criminalize just being homeless either - and thats the problem, thats what many cities were effectively doing (see

by Aloha 7y ago

I agree with you to an extent - but you cant criminalize just being homeless either - and thats the problem, thats what many cities were effectively doing (see Los Angeles). It's a multi-pronged approach to solve the issue, which prongs you use is a matter of how aggressive you're willing to get to solve it however.

quotemstr 7y ago
> cant criminalize just being homeless either Yes, you can. It really is that simple. The homeless problem isn't persistent because it's technically hard. It's persistent because a segment of society is addicted to moral posturing in a way that blocks necessary and obvious solutions. There is no legal or moral problem. Build adequate shelters in inexpensive locations and arrest everyone who camps on the street and refuses to go to one of these shelters. (This approach is also compatible with the recent SCOTUS stance on the subject.) Everyone needs a place to sleep, but there is no reason for society to support squatting on random public land as a lifestyle choice.
- Aloha 7y ago
  Morally you shouldn't and legally you currently cannot. What's your proposal, arrest everyone who's homeless and jail then forever?
  - krapp 7y ago
    >arrest everyone who's homeless and jail then forever At least then the homeless would have guaranteed access to shelter, food and medical care, and likely drug treatment and employment programs. It's more humane than lining public spaces with spikes and caltrops to drive the homeless away like unwanted animals, and Americans would likely much rather pay taxes to jail the homeless than to subsidize "socialist" initiatives like public housing and food distribution.
  - DrJosiah 7y ago
    That is his actual proposal. I'm trying to figure out if he's that dumb, or a shitposter.
seanmcdirmid 7y ago
You can criminalize pooping on the street. You can criminalize riding the bus without paying. You can criminalize petty theft, leaving your used needles in the park, etc...
- cududa 7y ago
  Where would you suggest they go if there are no public restrooms available to them? I mean my neighborhood is rampant with people pooping in the street, but I’d never call the cops on them. What else are they gonna do?
  - seanmcdirmid 7y ago
    There are public bathrooms downtown. If you ever have to use the ones at pike place market... Whenever I go downtown, even the semi-public restrooms in the store are constantly used by the homeless (making it difficult for other people to use, another reason not to go downtown), so they have that also. But they still poop in the parks because it is closer to their tents, what can you do? I worked in downtown in the 90s at palace where the homeless would hang out at night (3rd and pine McDonalds), and it wasn’t so bad back then that people would avoid going downtown. Now its just depressing and stores are moving out (eg the iconic Macy’s is going to become an amazon office building probably).
    - cududa 7y ago
      That’s ridiculous. Making someone take a one and a half hour bus ride to take a shit is inhumane.

by Aloha 7y ago

quotemstr 7y ago

> cant criminalize just being homeless either Yes, you can. It really is that simple. The homeless problem isn't persistent because it's technically hard. It's persistent because a segment of society is addicted to moral posturing in a way that blocks necessary and obvious solutions. There is no legal or moral problem. Build adequate shelters in inexpensive locations and arrest everyone who camps on the street and refuses to go to one of these shelters. (This approach is also compatible with the recent SCOTUS stance on the subject.) Everyone needs a place to sleep, but there is no reason for society to support squatting on random public land as a lifestyle choice.

Aloha 7y ago
Morally you shouldn't and legally you currently cannot. What's your proposal, arrest everyone who's homeless and jail then forever?
- krapp 7y ago
  >arrest everyone who's homeless and jail then forever At least then the homeless would have guaranteed access to shelter, food and medical care, and likely drug treatment and employment programs. It's more humane than lining public spaces with spikes and caltrops to drive the homeless away like unwanted animals, and Americans would likely much rather pay taxes to jail the homeless than to subsidize "socialist" initiatives like public housing and food distribution.
- DrJosiah 7y ago
  That is his actual proposal. I'm trying to figure out if he's that dumb, or a shitposter.

seanmcdirmid 7y ago

You can criminalize pooping on the street. You can criminalize riding the bus without paying. You can criminalize petty theft, leaving your used needles in the park, etc...

cududa 7y ago
Where would you suggest they go if there are no public restrooms available to them? I mean my neighborhood is rampant with people pooping in the street, but I’d never call the cops on them. What else are they gonna do?
- seanmcdirmid 7y ago
  There are public bathrooms downtown. If you ever have to use the ones at pike place market... Whenever I go downtown, even the semi-public restrooms in the store are constantly used by the homeless (making it difficult for other people to use, another reason not to go downtown), so they have that also. But they still poop in the parks because it is closer to their tents, what can you do? I worked in downtown in the 90s at palace where the homeless would hang out at night (3rd and pine McDonalds), and it wasn’t so bad back then that people would avoid going downtown. Now its just depressing and stores are moving out (eg the iconic Macy’s is going to become an amazon office building probably).
  - cududa 7y ago
    That’s ridiculous. Making someone take a one and a half hour bus ride to take a shit is inhumane.