Homelessness and policy

[nadinbrzezinski]

So after seeing what people see, or don't see, it is time to see WHY we have such an issue in this country.

We need to understand that this ranges from policies all the way to how this society has developed. So let's start by asking a fundamental question. Has the US always been this way? Where we as a society do not care much about the homeless? Well with a few exceptions, the sad answer is yes. This goes back to the vagrancy laws of the home country and the forced transportation of those who lived an idle life across the Atlantic, so they could become productive citizens. It goes back to the Puritan ethic idea that those who don't work, don't deserve help, or perhaps just charity. This is part of the National DNA, why there is no shame as to having homeless. And historically we have had a percentage of our population that is pretty much homeless. It is critical to understand this, since a lot of our high level policies come from these series of believes. If the society believes this, in general, politicians are going to follow those impulses.

Now in the modern day our crisis started with Reagan throwing mental patients to the streets. Those are hard core homeless that NEED medical care, but as long as we as a nation do not understand mental illness IS an illness, we will continue to have these policies. Also during the Reagan Administration the real counter fight to the Progressive policies earlier in the century started, which led to cuts in section eight housing as well as a slew of other programs. We also have a standing policy where we need to bring our workforce down to traditional cheap labor standards. No, having well paid labor is not the rule in the US, but the exception.

Why is this important to understand? The policies are symptoms of a malady. And in some ways the US needs to have it's society re-engineered. To do this we need to understand why the poor and the homeless are usually kicked to the curb. No, it is not the way it is, it is part of the national DNA. Why knowing history IS CRITICAL, because long standing trends can only change when you understand them and decide to change them, and realize it will take more than one generation. And in my view those trends NEED to change, if we are to become a more just nation, and it starts with you, and me. And it goes beyond charity.

On a personal note I expect the usual suspects to give me oodles of laws (symptoms at this point) but the solution starts with each one of us becoming familiar with local laws, and state ones and national ones, and fighting for social justice. But realize what you are fighting and realize that more than one person will tell you this is the way it is. That person is reflecting the national DNA. This is an echo of history going back to oh 16th century London... that is what you and I are fighting.