It's a hard call, Kat.  A lot of "homeless" folk are on the street not
because they've abused drugs or otherwise squandered their lives, but have
mental or other illnesses that prevent them from keeping a job.  I worry,
too, what will happen to those people.  I know from looking at stats in my
own workplace that many of these folks keep committing petty crimes in order
that they might stay in jail, where they'll at least be fed and have a warm
place to sleep.  I've visited the jail as part of my work duties--I can't
imagine anyone going there on purpose.

Certainly, there is an element within our society who have been "users of
the system" for generations (when you've been making babies in your early
teens since "The Great Society", it doesn't take long to make "many
generations".  I don't think you or I are referring to this group.

There is wide gap between the "haves" and "have nots" in our society.
Always has been.  I think what's insidious about this particular time in our
society's history is that the "haves" are riding on the backs of the "have
nots" like never before.  I think, too, that many of the "have nots" are in
urban areas, with urban cultures, and cannot provide for themselves like the
rural poor can.  Sure, medical care ma be marginally better in the cities,
but what I've seen in my own family history is that the rural poor continue
to eak out a living.  The urban poor simply don't have the tools, knowledge
or space to do the same.

-Kyle

-----Original Message-----
From: Kathy Salkin [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 10:48 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Death Benefits? by Rush Limbaugh


I know there are those on this list who probably think I'm pretty
conservative, and I suppose I am, on the subject of the law and taking
responsibility for your actions.  I think society doesn't owe the individual
anything and the person has to make his own way and contribute to society
for
the good of the community.

However I think we need to help those in need and the private community
can't
do it on its own, and that's where the government needs to step in, in my
opinion. For example I was alarmed to read of a proposition on the ballot in
San Francisco to greatly cut subsidies to the homeless in the city.  I think
if that goes through, it'll just make a growing problem worse.  The number
of
homeless in the streets is rising again due to the worsening economy and
shelters are feeling the strain.  I'm worried about what will happen to
those
people.

Kat