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Originally Posted by Kevin
So what you're saying is that there are people who don't want to continue to look for work because they either don't have any marketable skills [their fault] or they have some self-esteem issues [also their fault]. Like I said, there's a state program which had untapped capacity which provides job training and placement services for free -- in many cases it'll even assist people with relocation related costs (probably nothing more than a bus ticket if you're homeless, and the greyhound station is also within walking distance). So at the end of the day, we're still talking about people who don't want to be responsible for themselves (absent the physically handicapped who are eligible for government assistance and the schizos who we could probably do better for, but thanks to the Supreme Court, we can't just institutionalize them).
Why don't you look at the original post. I was specifically talking about the bums who walk up to me on the street and ask for handouts, feigning illnesses, running people down, etc., not the people down at the shelter.
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OK fair enough. however, you gave ONE example of your interaction with a homeless person. and surely you know there are as many different types of homeless as there are people in general. im just asking you to look at the other sides - that the answer to homeless people getting their ish together is so cut-and-dry. i suppose it could be in SOME cases, but i bet in MANY other cases, its not as simple as walking into some ready-to-work program and collecting your $ at the end of the day, getting dinner every day at a soup kitchen, or rummaging through a bin of clothes at a shelter. even then those are short-term fixes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin
I couldn't care less that these folks take advantage of charitable services and state-run employment relocation/retraining services. I think those are great programs which provide an overall economic benefit if taken advantage of (even a marginally employed person costs the state less than an unemployed person).
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again, fair enough. what im saying is that not everyone is willing to take advantage to what is there. i mean, just because someone is giving out something doesnt mean you should automatically take it. people have their reasons. who are you to judge?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin
You're making a leap here which simply cannot be inferred from any of my posts except that you're stereotyping me as a "right winger" or something along those lines.
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i'm leaping just as much as you are. and yes, im stereotyping you just as much as youre stereotyping the homeless. now what?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin
Awww.. I'll bet that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside to say that. So people are not homeless due to their own bad choices. It's society's fault... two Americas and all that.
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i don't need warm and fuzzies, especially on an internet message board from the likes of your opinions. and no, i can agree with you to an extent that some folks are homeless due to bad choices. there are consequences to everything. now should you reach in your pocket everytime a homeless person asks you for it? not at all. but again, you dont know what choices that person made to get to standing in front of you begging.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin
It helps to have a job/income. That's the step 1 that many of these people can't seem to fathom. There's actually a business located pretty near to here where they can walk in, and if they can perform manual labor, they get paid for that day in cash.
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again, you're cutting-and-drying.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin
Personally, if I were homeless... (I'd feel a lot better going to a soup kitchen and using services designed for that purpose than hitting up random strangers on the street, making them feel uncomfortable, etc. The "pride" picture you're trying to paint here simply doesn't seem realistic.)
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see, and im going to stop you there. you can't really say "if i was..." in a situation like this. you (we, as in the fortunate) can afford to think in idealistic terms versus realistic terms. but since youre claiming im painting an unrealistic picture of pride, then i guess we're even huh?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin
And you spew a bunch of typical left-wing b.s. one-liners, so I guess we're even in that regard, eh?
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sure. 1 point for Kevin, 1 point for tld221.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin
I don't believe I've said anything which you have shown to be mythical. Maybe you can point those things out to me?
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sure:
1. "They aren't really all that bad off." yes, some of them really are that bad off. and dont even come at me saying "i wasnt speakiing for all, just some." you used "they" and that encompasses an enitre group youre stereotyping.
2. "If they're able to... they can definitely work." again, i disagree. i implore you to hire someone off the streets then if you feel that way.
3. "I'd never be in that sort of position." Never say never pal... i just hope your world doesnt come crashing down anytime soon.
4. "...so that I'll give them money to buy alcohol/drugs with." yeah, that's what ALL the homeless folks are doing, drugging and boozing up with your nickels and dimes. maybe theyre trying to grab a cheap bite from mcdonalds to take a break from same ol soup at the church down the street?