What do we do with those that do not fit?

1. 59

   SocraticMethodposted 12 years ago

   We see homeless everywhere these day and we either pity them or are indifferent, but do we see ourselves there? It seems that so many of these people just don't fit into to our culture and we make no room for them. Why? Because we do not wish to subsidize their ways. Is that just?

   replyreport
   1. 94

      wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Although I disagree with your (apparent) reasoning that many of the homeless are that way simply because they don't wish to fit into society, if it is so then it is quite just and reasonable that others not be required legally or ethically to support them. 
      
      Man lives and exists by "the sweat of his brow"; for anyone to decide they don't want to and then demand that they live by the sweat of other brows is abhorrent and completely unreasonable.

      replyreport
      1. 59

         SocraticMethodposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I use the homeless as an exemplar, but I could have easily used the mentally ill. The question for me is "What do we (as a society) do with those that do not fit?"

         replyreport
   2. 60

      Wizard Of Whimsyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Doesn't it depend on your empathy and on whom or what you identify with?
      
      If you are from the right-hand side of the political spectrum you may very well say it's "just" because many of the homeless are lazy parasites.  An over-work stiff to an aggressive well remunerated business man may never see themselves in that position.
      
      If you're views are more liberal and progressive you may see the homeless as a ubiquitous failure of American justice where a culture worships money and liberty before it worships the Golden Rule or shared responsibility.
      
      

      replyreport
2. 77

   Uninvited Writerposted 12 years ago

   People can't seem to put themselves in the homeless person's shoes. Anyone can become homeless through no fault of their own. And...many of the homeless actually have jobs.

   replyreport
3. 76

   Shadesbreathposted 12 years ago

   It's complicated, as all genuine issues are, and every instance of homelessness is its own unique case that should be treated as such. Which means, the first order for reasonable, compassionate, intelligent people is to not try to pretend its a simple "liberal progressive" thing vs. an evil conservative greed monster thing. Ideals and reality don't always line up perfectly.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Wizard Of Whimsyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Well our hub author seems to have changed the question mid stream here.
      
      I suspect the closing down of countless public institutions because they're costing its citizens too much in taxes is, in essence, the cause of the many more mentally ill and homeless people on our streets—and therefore a political, social, moral & ideological  issue as I see it.   
      
      
      But if that's too simplistic for you, please do share your complex answer, or solution, (or even a root cause) to how society should deal with the mentally ill and homeless?
      
      How about giving more discounts for guns and ammo? Or maybe we should privatize more prisons for those investors who need more "mad money?" [pun intended]
      
      

      replyreport
4. 84

   kathleenkatposted 12 years ago

   I don't know... We seem to have shelters for the homeless, and shelters for the mentally ill. Yet, many still die.
   
   Additionally, I have lived in the same area for several years now. I have seen the same group of bums standing on the same street corner holding up "hungry, anything helps" signs the entire time I have been here, and can only assume there were there prior to my arrival, and will be after I depart. For this particular group of people, I must admit that I do not accept them. Why? I find it incredibly hard to believe that they haven't tried to find jobs, and find a home, for all these years, while at the same time drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes that they used generous people's money to buy.
   
   I always gift the homeless with gift cards to restaurants, if I ever do.

   replyreport
5. 61

   SpanStarposted 12 years ago

   Your message has valid points when it comes to us and them.  We've changed (meaning the masses) just like those who were rased in a rich community they can't related to the average Joe.  We take so much for granted these days that if someone gave many us something they made with their own hands it's almost shocking to hear them even say "thank you."

   replyreport
6. 75

   Mighty Momposted 12 years ago

   Whenever I see any homeless person my first thought is "There but for the grace of God go I..."
   And I know this to be 100% true.
   Very, very conscious of how little it would take to lose everything.
   As so many have.

   replyreport