How to end homelessness (and more) A letter to the right.

[The Straight Story]

I live in a home that costs about 90k, have a big lot (165' by 60' give or take) three bedrooms, et al.

The Iraq war has cost over 80 billion.

This equates to roughly a million homes we could build and let people live in rent free.

Now I know that won't solve the larger problem (and we could build condo's, shelters, et al instead) but it could give those down and out a place to go.

America first some say? Show me where we are doing that. The right clamors about patriotism, protecting america, and so on - well we are all americans here in this country and we need your help. We don't need guns and bombs. We need healthcare, jobs, a place to get some food, a place to sleep.

We in America need help - you go over and work on the infrastructure on nations you decimate, why won't you do this here at home? We won't bomb you, we won't raise against you and kill you, we will welcome your help.

You talk about abortion and how many of those aborted could grow up to be something - well there are many kids trapped in a bad life who won't grow up to be anything because they have no help from you.

You talk about how you freed a people and will help them build a nation - we need that too you know. You bitch about taxes being wasted, and how base closings will save 25 billion over 20 years - well you just spent over a 100 billion killing people elsewhere.

You tell me that we each need to be more responsible and we can handle things ourselves - why did you not tell the iraqi people this? They could have rose up and revolted, that was their option and they chose against it - but you don't tell them the same things you tell us. Why?

You bail out companies, and the government, when they fuck up - but you tell people it is their fault they are not better off.

You want my tax dollars for war and killing, but you bitch when I want them used for healing and helping.

You want to invest in businesses, which is ok, but you don't want to invest in the people in this country. You don't want to invest in better education, better healthcare, anything when it involves the people who make this country what it is.

The left may not be perfect, no one group is, but we at least want to do something for the people who make this America. We want to help all of us, while you want to bail out the very companies that are undermining our country.

You praise the military and say you love them, while you send them off to die and break up families - for what really?

Invest in the people here in the US. The people made this country what it is, the people make up the military, the people make up the companies. The people need you. Put down your arms, set aside your hate, take a look at your fellow man and help him out.

What would Jesus do? He would die for his fellow man. He would heal him. He would show love to him and encourage others to care for him. Jesus said to help the poor, those in prison, et al - he did not say there would not be poor, that there would not be people in prison, or that all people would be rich and happy. He knew there would always be those down and out - and he commanded you, and I, to help them.

We are here, now, in the country you call home. Why not help people here and now, instead of killing people thousands of miles away?

Join me in peace, in love, in helping each other. Join me and seek peace and know that if it comes to a real war I will be there by your side fighting to keep our country free from tyranny.

[Poppyseedman]

1. I am all for helping people who want help

But I believe in teaching someone to help themselves is just as important as reaching out to help them.

The truth be known, the vast majority of homelessness is not due to poverty, that's the effect, not the cause, the cause is due to mental illness and addictions to either drugs or alcohol.

Giving them a rent free home is not the answer for those who don't want to help themselves or are addicted. It will be trashed in six months.

Putting them in long care treatment is the first step.

[The Straight Story]

2. Understood really

I don't think the problems are quite so simple as a place to live. My point overall is that we can do more to help here in the US and the money spent elsewhere would go a long way towards ending homelessness here.

How it is used could well be debated (and should be). Having a place to put people while they heal would help. We have problems but the right cares more about the problems in other countries then here.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. And where will they live...

While in that treatment? They are closing the hospitals left and right.

No one will heal while on the street.

[Poppyseedman]

4. That's my point

if we are going to spend 80 billion dollars to build 80 million homes, it will be a colossal waste of money and time.

Spend the money on treatment, whatever it takes.