America seems to have criminalized poverty, and drug addiction. That doesn't make much sense to me, nor does it seem very fair. A lot of the people on the streets could be rehabilitated and lead relatively satisfying lives, if they are identified and helped early. My understanding is that once someone has lived outdoors very long, there is so much damage to the body, and to the psyche, that it is hard to heal people no matter how hard everyone tries.
I also think we have to realize that not everyone can totally take care of themselves. Some people have been so damaged by their childhoods, or the war in Vietnam, or failures in life, that they will never be able to afford the minimum rent in our society, which seems to have a housing shortage, particularly at the low end. The choice is really to admit that, and try to develop coordinated programs and subsidies, or watch people living on the streets. It disturbs me so much to see that every day, that I would gladly pay more taxes to help them. |
