Joy,

If you read further on, I also said there are those who can't work.  I
include those with mental illnesses  in that category.  Please don't put
words in my mouth or presume I am hard-hearted. I'm not. I just don't think
those who are capable of working should take advantage of a system that
takes care of those who cannot.

Kat (who is cranky)

----- Original Message -----
From: "- Joy -" <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.c-palsy
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2003 12:55 PM
Subject: Re: welfare, etc. ; was RE: WMD'S DOES IT MATTER


> Kat,
>
> You wrote:
> "I see the guys standing on street corners here begging and think, 'why
> can't you all go and find work?  There's work out there for you - you just
> need to find it. Believe me, it's out there.'"
>
> Don't forget that a lot of these people are unable to work due to mental
> illness.  A lot of the homeless are veterans who are plagued by PTSD, many
> are schizophrenic.  The cuts in health care and affordable housing have
left
> them with no where to turn, and no one to care for them.  It's very easy
to
> say "go find work", but it's hard to do.  Very few places are hiring,
> especially in cities like DC, where many people are unemployed.  Some of
> these people are lazy, but a lot of the homeless are working and unable to
> afford housing, unable to find jobs, or too mentally ill to work.  Don't
> paint all of them with the same brush.
>
> ~Joy~