Why Progressives Downplay Crime & Homelessness

[@WeedTacos]

Neoliberalism or laissez-faire capitalism is the main reason why we have had homelessness, poverty, wealth inequality, income inequality and crime for the past 75 years in our country.

[@SinewRending]

*Don't forget wage stagnation and lack of proper taxing.*

[@DeadCat-42]

I volunteer at a shelter in a large Midwest city. The vast majority of residents are from rural areas and suburbs. They aren't in the cities because they started there. They are forced to the cities , often transported to the cities from rural communities!! Blaming the cities for a rural problem is one of the biggest issues we face dealing with homelessness.

[@AdrieonnaMaplethorpe]

To be honest, no one deserves to feel unsafe where they live or work. I am glad you’re standing up for what you believe.

[@TheKickPuncher]

Housing should be a right, not a privilege.

[@TheKickPuncher]

Treat drugs as a health problem, not a crime problem. Massively increase public housing.

[@geraldvance7925]

It's a crime problem. These teenage kids you see smashing businesses and looting every day are not on drugs. They're doing it because they know they can get away with it. The liberal policies make it possible for them.

[@jomo39]

Thank you for covering this, Ana. Normal people think it’s important.

[@ryvyr]

Reaction to people being people under harsh socioeconomic circumstances seems akin to barking at the wind. We should focus on systemic critique where poverty correlates to crime.

[@jomo39]

@@ryvyrI agree, but we need to do both. I have a brother who is dealing with drugs and homelessness, and I can tell you definitively that family members of these folks want a way to forcefully detain them and force them into treatment. The fact that there isn’t a way to force my brother to get help after 100+ hospital visits over the past 10 years, bankruptcies, countless arrests, is insane.

[@ryvyr]

@@jomo39 Laments for your brother, and indeed there is friction between freedom for freedom's sake and imposed resppnsibility. I hold that incarceration serves a purpose whilst being largley preventable if not for abject avarice (as well lacking safe use sites).

[@honeybee1740]

Ana thank you for having this conversation. Friends and I were just speaking of this particular subject because it is affecting our Washington state city. There are plenty of cops no need for more. That's the only solution the local citizens and city council have to suggest. But the fact is tax funded solutions can be used responsibly without handing it over to law enforcement. Going for housing and rehabilitation programs to help these people. There are so many places in my community that seem like obvious solutions for housing . But for reasons unknown stand empty instead of utilizing these resources in the most necessary and beneficial of ways .

[@ryvyr]

I lived in Tacoma for some years and dwarly miss Washinton, though was angered constantly when on foot within the city, not at people but rather how preventable the conditions were as touched upon in your post here. Reaction to people being people under harsh socioeconomic circumstances seems akin to barking at the wind. We should focus on systemic critique where poverty correlates to crime.

[@EastSide-qc5oy]

@@ryvyr “systemic critique,” while I’m sure is wholly important, also sounds like a process that will take a long, long time to effect tangible change. In a lot of places this seems like a crisis that needs immediate action, while the rigorous social analysis can go on in the background for longterm. I don’t have any answers though about what immediate actions should occur.

[@haitileblanc3075]

If problems are ignored you’ll have a South Africa situation. When you have rich South Africans pay for private security in their neighborhoods while the poor suffer and get robbed

[@valerielhw]

I consider myself pretty liberal on most issues, and I have never just "accepted" street homelessness. It is inhumane towards the individual and is a blight on American cities. On social media, I have always advocated for much more affordable housing than currently exists, livable wage laws, more outdoor sanctioned camping places, more _humanely-run_ emergency shelters and more drug addiction and mental health treatment access. I always get nasty "feedback" from conservatives stating that the homeless should simply be arrested. When I then point out how much more tax money would be spent in prosecuting, hiring court-appointed defense attorneys and jailing those who are convicted who cannot pay fines would be than with my ideas, they fall silent. Of course it shouldn't be legal to shoot up drugs on the streets. People who do this need to be directed towards treatment facilities that will allow them to shoot up there, while _strongly encouraging_ them to get into drug withdrawl treatment. Homelessness is certainly one cause of crime that shouldn't be ignored. It is also true that some cities in the US with relatively low levels of street homeless have high levels of crime.

[@shaynestanz1]

Your arguments are so rational and coherent that I'd find it insulting to call you a Lib. Cheers.

[@HagiaFantasia]

I agree with the addicted homeless not being criminalized and offered safe drug use facilities that also offer treatment, also not every homeless person is on drugs or has mental disorders, many live in their vehicle, couch surf at a friend or family members house, are victims of human trafficking, runaways, immigrants, and people that have difficulty obtaining housing due to a criminal record. There's also a lot of homelessness because of being priced out due to high rents and costs of living, also people are one missed or short paycheck away from homelessness themselves. The prices are too high, food costs too much, rent costs too much, something has got to give 😢

[@hunternedib1119]

Boy, has this Country changed a lot in 2 years.

[@therealjammit]

Lowest joblessness in 40 years, so yes.

[@shekool18]

@@therealjammit that is not true at all. In fact, it's the opposite.

[@therealjammit]

@@shekool18Feel free to Google it.

[@ross23233]

I am disappointed, Anna. During my life, I have had four homeless gay friends. Three of them have mental problems and no longer have family willing to help them, while the fourth one has a disability. None of them have ever stolen anything, even when given the opportunity to stay at my place by themselves. What they all have in common is that they have family unwilling to help them, and some of them dislike staying at shelters located far from main areas where they have to leave early in the morning. Most of the criminals you mention are healthy individuals, not homeless, who believe that society owes them something.

[@ChrisLaprise-p8n]

I hear you. This is bs.

[@SinewRending]

*Your personal anecdotes don't hold any weight here.*

[@ChrisLaprise-p8n]

@@SinewRending Your comments to hold any weight here.

[@ross23233]

@@SinewRending @SinewRending, what is your personal opinion on the subject? Do you have any study or research that you want to share here? Do you think that most of the homeless are criminals? She brought up this subject for discussion, and I am free to give my opinion.

[@danidesip2432]

Did any of those family member reach their limits?

[@vandal280]

What I really rail against is just judging homeless people and drug addicts. I hate when some act like it's a moral failing. No one deserves to live on the street. Some people like my boyfriend assume that the majority of homeless people are drug addicts who choose to do drugs. The irony is he is a recovering addict himself. It really upsets me when most homeless people are not drug addicts

[@valerielhw]

My sister's friend is also very judgement against the homeless, even though he himself has been homeless in the past and risks it again by constantly being behind on his rent. Ironic, isn't it?

[@shaynestanz1]

All it can take to become homeless is a sudden illness or disability, or in the case of LA or NYC renters, getting priced out of your own neighborhood. I feel some people have an image of what a homeless person looks like in their heads because they don't want to face the fact that it could ever be them.

[@sjw4life546]

The fact that Ana brought up the fact that she's gotten the blessing from" majority minorities " to speak about the rise in crime and homelessness is interesting. Also interesting is the FBI releasing a report that violent crime, including murders fell by 6% in 2022 and is in an accelerated decline this year according to preliminary data. What isn't on the decline is hate crimes, which have seen a stark increase. I guess Ana didn't get the black blessing to talk about that

[@valerielhw]

If the US has boatloads of money to send to the Israeli war machine, it should certainly have enough money to send to US cities to combat homelessness.

[@shaynestanz1]

The ppl in power simply do not care to address this. Why improve people's material conditions when they can just criminalize them to fund the PDs and the prison industrial complex?

[@OK-pi6fq]

Eisenhower said where the richest country in the world, and we shouldn’t have the levels of poverty we have. in fact we shouldn’t even be on par with other countries that are wealthy, because we are the richest country in the world and we should be shining a example. He set out with a bipartisan cabinet and a group of politicians, who all sought to do as much as possible to cut poverty. In just 10 years, poverty was cut in half. 50% of poverty was cut in 10 years. With it crime went down dramatically. Ill-nourishment went down with it. People sought higher education. The governments that followed, dismantled everything they did. that means that our government has total control over the levels and rates of poverty, and the crime that follows it, it takes more than just local government. It takes federal government and they have total control over it. Means that the poverty and crime that goes with it is by design.

[@SupportTheArts-yo8ox]

💯

[@paigeharrison3909]

While I was homeless I did commit crimes. I shoplifted on a fairly regular basis in order to survive. If the homeless were better supported there would be less crime associated with homelessness. Do people seriously expect others to remain quiet and law abiding when being so negatively affects their survival? Make it easier to get mental health care, even if it means involuntary commitment. If you limit public camping make it somewhere near the services homeless will need. Sensible and compassionate, not punitive nor just sweeping it under the rug.

[@IanChristopherson-t9v]

When I was homeless I did too. I tried to get help. They told me I couldn't get cash assistance because I didn't have a home. So I said, "Well then set me up in a home." Then they told me because I was broke, I didn't qualify for home assistance. I said do you even realize how stupid that sounds? And she looked at me like a vacant cow.

[@TheHesseJames]

Doesn’t take away from the fact that you harmed other people by your crimes. You might have exculpatory circumstances going in your favor here, still you harmed other people. And we should acknowledge that these people are victims.

[@gabeasher187]

The hill Ana wants to die on is hilarious. Solving the money problems after they solve the nimby problems is quite fascinating. Lumping "crime" with "homelessness" is careless as hell.

[@johndefalque5061]

Homelessness isn't a crime-it's a crime that people are homeless!

[@charleskimson2288]

The problem is that all parties are avoiding an issue we all know needs to be dealt with by working together. Until it hits their neighborhood, denial occurs. All politicians have the kind of money that enable them to escape the issue to an extent. There will always be homelessness and crime but to what extent is what we have control over. I’ve never seen homelessness and theft as problematic as it is now. We need less party focus and more investment in our communities but within reason. We also need proper consequences to detour the smash and grabs for example.

[@toulousegoose1150]

It would be nice to be able to have civilised discussions about involuntary mental health treatment. I don't agree with 99% of what Eric Adams says and does, for example, but his point about involuntary mental treatment shouldn't be thrown out with the bathwater. If people won't get off the street when it's below freezing, are unable to manage their own camping area to the point that hoarded items contribute to fires, or as Anna says, are smoking meth on public transit, shouldn't those behaviors be considered within the "danger to self/others" standard of most psychiatric admissions? Progressives getting blamed for crime and homelessness might do well to recall that Regan is the one who shut down the large psychiatric hospitals. Having these facilities might alleviate the homelessness crisis as well as contribute to employment for both staff and the patients that are able to recover and get back on their feet in independent housing.

[@birdiegirl1622]

He also passed a law making it almost impossible to have someone committed

[@malycaa]

I'm firmly progressive and have been my whole life. Crazy empathy will do that. I've never understood how so many liberals rightly care about the rights of the housess, yet dismiss concerns about the rights of the people the houseless hurt. All people are equal right? Then everyone matters. I've been called right wing for this. Toxic dehumanization of the houseless or any group is right wing, empathy for everyone is as left as it gets. There's a difference between compassion and enabling and enabling is one of the worst things you can do for an unstable person.

[@michaelm9351]

I don't get it... I've never heard anyone, progressive or otherwise, downplay crime or homelessness. Quite the opposite. Everyone I've ever spoken to or listened to knows that these are huge problems.

[@Jeremy-ql1or]

Progressives: "Sexual assault! Guns violence!! School Shootings!!!" Me; "So you are concerned about about crime?" Progressives: "HOW DARE YOU FEAR MONGER ABOUT CRIME!!!"

[@DownBadDaddy]

You...making up nonsense

[@whatnameisstilaround]

The last time the left took a "tough on crime" attitude was the 90's. It led to the crime bill, prison overcrowding, Hillary's "super predator" comment, and Bill cancelling a campaign event to fly back to Arkansas and sign a death warrant for a man who was mentally disabled. What we're seeing now could be the result of an over correction.

[@EastSide-qc5oy]

It would be really cool if we could come up with workable solutions that aren’t overcorrections of overcorrections of overcorrections and without everyone on both sides getting hysterical and shrieky. Apparently thats too much to ask.

[@michaelgiswold1336]

You are not alone chica. I was a Pizza Hut delivery driver for 25 years. Robbed at gunpoint five times, beaten to a pulp twice.

[@valerielhw]

Sorry to hear that. I'm betting that your job didn't pay what it should have considering your level of risk.

[@danielmakinde-v9k]

no job is worth being pulled a gun at .. do you wanna blame his job or employer?@@valerielhw

[@valerielhw]

@@danielmakinde-v9k People risk their lives for many jobs all over the US and the world, or didn't you know that? Police and fire fighters routinely risk their lives at work. So do taxi drivers, military personnel and medical workers, among others. Before I retired, I briefly worked as as 'access checker' at a hospital that included COVID patients. Since that was pre-vaccine and I was a senior, I took a risk. So yes, People SHOULD be paid more when their jobs risk their lives.

[@neilwetmore]

Anna is the most right leaning member of tyt change my mind

[@hitch-tf5rh]

she does seem the most sensible

[@spikesmth]

I'm progressive af, I live in SF, I deal with homelessness and the bullshit (though not the worst of it) on a daily basis. I think this is a good discussion for us to be having on the left. Ana is not a fascist because she's bothered by the crime and drugs. BUT, I feel like it's just a bunch of noise to talk about "the way we talk about" things. We cannot get sucked into this meta bullshit when we don't have even close to an adequate policy framework to make a serious dent in the problem. There is a place for homeless outreach and programs to make life on the street at least less deadly. Police need to be engaged with the street populations, even better if there are specialized units to deal with mental health crises (I've witnessed them work effectively myself). But at the end of the day, probably a majority of individuals in this "problem" population will get involved with the courts. I do not believe or accept that cycling them through the status quo prison system does anything to help them >90% of the time, and more likely to leave them worse off on almost all dimensions. I propose an intermediate detention infrastructure with specialized facilities and caregivers for drug and mental health treatment. Patients can be referred there involuntarily, or under threat of prison. We've seen over and over how gentle suggestion does not compel this population into treatment, so I think it is fair to force them into it. Then we also have to be reasonable about the proportion of homeless drug addicts are actually "fixable" even at tremendous public expense. I'd guess it's around 50%. But 98% of them will stay where they are otherwise. The type of facilities I'm envisioning would be large, like boarding schools, capable of servicing 100s of inpatients, and maybe 2x outpatients. In addition, perhaps, there could be a reassessment of the shelter system that makes them more appealing and/or available. A lot of street people stay away because they aren't safe and have very strict rules to the point of being unreasonable given the needs of some/many/most homeless. Many California cities are about to lose control of their zoning to the state (thank god) so that will help defeat all the liberal NIMBYs who fight against the development of such facilities, or any affordable/dense housing at all. As for actual property and violent crime, send people to prison when they are repeat offenders. I favor giving people second or even third chances. But if you can't learn your lesson after that, then you face increasing prison sentences. Prisons obviously need more rehabilitative programs, release transition support, and destigmatization of employing felons in certain fields. But that just leads into a rant about a century worth of criminal justice studies. All this to say, the solutions are fairly obvious, but we have to be sober and realistic about how and why the problem has gotten worse, and have reasonable expectations about how much the problem can be solved given the slapdash strategy and limited infrastructure for it.

[@BeautifulMoodz117]

This isn’t even the only state!!!! They don’t help. I am homeless and they want me to talk to one non profit to the next and no one has helped. I just need a UHAUL to get to my family and start working.

[@krakken-]

I live in Seattle and don't see the crime that FoxNews tries to project on liberal areas. In fact, the theft rates in Seattle are actually slightly lower than in my "low crime", conservative midwestern hometown. And violent crime rates are lower in Seattle than most conservative states. That doesn't mean there is no crime; just that I am no less safe in Seattle than I was when I lived in the "safe" midwest. Which I suspect is what the people interviewed by FoxNews were also experiencing. Homelessness is a different matter, and is a problem for which Seattle and many other cities are struggling with finding a solution. But that isn't what the FoxNews segment was about.

[@keytronic]

As a millennial with a fleeting will to exist I try not to judge what others do to get through life. As long as they don't harm people then they can have their drugs and religion.

[@adriennebrailsford6291]

Hopelessness is what fuels libertarians and ignites others who also feel the hopelessness in whatever category they’re in. Powerful folks who continue to break rules and continue screw the general population, being unable to earn enough to live, unable to feel qualified or get more qualified to grown in earnings for savings and future anything, fearful medical issues will wipe out any of the little pennies you have and none of physical social moments that can have real meaning… this inspires hopelessness

[@haitileblanc3075]

People that are against giving services to homeless addicts confuse me. Say they don’t want to give money to people that don’t work but having people in the streets is expensive and jail is expensive as well

[@jackkanoff6265]

I don't know anyone who is against helping addicts. Everyone knows they won't seek help until they're ready. Not to mention all the states that offer detox and rehab in lieu of jail.

[@helenahall4893]

@jackkanof, states offer rehab and detox, but there is a long wait sometimes. The need far out way the resources.

[@RobertConwaymovieguy]

Keep fighting the good fight, Anna.

[@franklingillette3277]

Anyone who downplays crime is aiding and abetting the criminals.

[@thepokekid01]

Progressives don't downplay homelessness. If you want to argue they downplay "crime", I think you can put up some wiggle-room for not talking about what they are going to do about crime after they put in to place ideas that tackle and solve poverty (as greed still exists)... but Progressives are constantly talking about homelessness. You lose people before you even start an argument with statements like that.

[@SupportTheArts-yo8ox]

True. Progressives TALK about homelessness all the time. So far as crime, it either "doesn't exist" or they turn the other way.

[@movdqa]

I've heard about retail stores having to lock a lot of things up so that you need to get an associate to unlock something for you. Or companies or restaurants just closing stores in some cities because it's a problem. Today, one of the security guards in a mall was assaulted by 3 women who had stolen $3,000 of merchandise from a Macy's. I believe that one of the charges was Enterprise Theft as in a criminal gang. Massachusetts has tried to solve the problem with Right to Shelter but it's resulted in being a migrant magnet as who doesn't want free housing. So the program ran out of money and has to ration shelter now.

[@shekool18]

That's not new. Retail stores have always lock their higher value inventory, like electronics.

[@movdqa]

@@shekool18 They're locking lower value stuff too now. Costco is cleaning up in this space as they have loss rates in the hundreths of a percent.

[@shekool18]

@@movdqa I personally haven't noticed that. I live in one of the biggest cities in the country. However, my experience is also anecdotal. I encourage you to look up statistical information on crime from the 90s to now.

[@thecatsbackyard4833]

What she starts talking about around 1:35 ish is very important. The band aid incrementalism of the moderates has given opponents of even basic social reforms a series of effective talking points. Using band aids instead of bandages for an extended period of time makes it easier to say we should just amputate (austerity). This distracts us from trillions wasted on mass incarceration that hasn't worked and has even made things worse.

[@ChazOfHonor]

Imagine not being able to ever afford to move out, but choosing to have a child for no reason. If you can’t afford to move, then you def cannot provide that child a healthy life

[@MichaelRussell3000]

There is only one solution to the housing crisis, and it is simple. No one shall own another's home. One person one home. No corporate-owned residential properties. No trust fund owned real estate. We already have MORE HOUSING than we have people. A person can only occupy one residence at a time. Force the soverign wealth funds and the hedge funds to divest of all residential property. Limit ownership to one house per person. Problem solved.

[@larryhaug71]

I like the way you think

[@1jajc]

What a straw man argument. Who is saying there’s no crime?????? Outside the establishment who?????

[@birdiegirl1622]

Progressives say it regularly in cities like SF. They say it’s FOX news propaganda

[@thedebatemechannel4746]

I live in one of the supposed most dangerous cities in New York That's actually known for murder. Crime is not something that I think that much about. Mainly it's the normal city life stuff. If you leave something valuable out there's a high probability that you will be a victim of a crime of opportunity but it's not likely to be violent. If you leave your bicycle on your front yard someone who will steal it. If you leave your laptop inside your locked car but visible someone will take it but simply lock in the car alone lowers the chance of that because generally they like the easy stuff. Other than that one of my favorite restaurants is in the most dangerous part of town and although I try to pay attention to my surroundings when I'm there I'm not worried about being a victim of crime. People are very friendly here like for example if I'm in my local pizza shop and some random guy walks in it's commonplace for them to greet whoever's in the restaurant. I know my neighbors we look out for each other. We do not live anything like what the news is talking about. That's not to say they aren't parts of this country that are having serious problems but it's absolutely not the way it's portrayed in the media. If I'm here chilling in a city known for crime where we have gangs everywhere and I'm relaxed then that should tell you something. For the record I've lived in places that were hostile where I did not feel comfortable but that was over 20 years ago. Things were very different back then.

[@aap223]

😮

[@mikechang2023]

I believe what Ana says about some place she doesn't live more than I believe actual data and someone who lives there because that's the world we're in nowadays.

[@thedebatemechannel4746]

@@chadabercrombie6860 no but I've lived in Flatbush and the Bronx. I was fearful of 80s and early 90s Bronx. Not so much now. Also had fear in East Boston, but I can't afford living there anymore.

[@thedebatemechannel4746]

@@mikechang2023 let me be very clear. We are known for murders for a reason. That being said there has been a drastic reduction in crime here in the last 5 years so the city that was known for murders doesn't really exist anymore. However that used to be us so the elements that brought that didn't simply vanish. So we still have murder here and shootings and gang violence but the specific distinction now that is most relevant is that from my view over the last year and a half it seems that most of this crime is criminal on criminal crime. I don't really see a lot of innocent bystanders. When there's a shooting it's gang members shooting each other. And for some reason I don't really hear about innocent bystanders getting shot although I'm sure that must happen. The other observation is the frequency at which these types of shootings happen is not as high as the news would make it appear which is probably one of the reasons why it's not something I worry about. If they were doing shootings every other day or something ridiculous like that even if it's gang members shooting gang members that is something that would worry me because that would mean I would be hearing the gunshots and eventually I would see some guy running on the block with a gun in his hand being chased by another but instead all I hear are stories and I don't really see or hear much of anything. I can go for up to a week and not even here police sirens. Again, just because I don't hear them doesn't mean they don't exist so we're talking about frequency. It's not happening enough that I'm even able to personally see or hear anything. In the last year and a half the only thing that I've actually really seen of any significance and again I spend a lot of time in the community, for example the laundromat I use is a big hangout for homeless people not too far away from it, so I'm definitely in the community to experience things but the only thing I saw in the year and a half was maybe four or five times but definitely less than 10 times I've seen open shoplifting of items that probably cost no more than $30 total, The Glassdoor to a store I frequent was smashed two times as a result of some of those shoplifters who are upset about being called out for shoplifting, One night I went out a little bit too late on a part of town, near to the most dangerous part of town which are these really low income apartment building blocks like you'd see on the show The wire, a few guys came into the restaurant that I was in playing around with a flare gun and my street smarts told me that these guys were trouble. However I made sure to stay alert and pay attention to them without actually letting them be aware that I was, made sure not to draw any attention to myself and then went home without any incident. That night was the first time that I actually had anxiety about potential crime. Those guys were definitely the types that you could see doing some random violence. Very likely criminals and or gang members but not just that, the type that are a little bit on edge. I'll go to my local pizza shop and see people come in that I suspect are in the same social circles as these guys yet I don't worry about these guys. I recognize the difference between an unhinged unstable criminal type versus ones that are more closer to normal people they just so happen to be criminals and will definitely use violence in certain contexts but I generally not a threat to a random person that has nothing to do with them. So in short, the main theme here is mind your business and you don't have anything to worry about. Yes you could get hit by a stray bullet but you can also get hit by a car or die of a heart attack. The most important detail is the odds of getting hit by a stray bullet are very very low. I've never even heard of anybody getting pickpocketed.

[@JohnB-dr8sk]

You're a total joke. Yeah, let's just ignore all of the people being pushed onto subway tracks, the knockouts, the robberies, the sheer madness. Get lost

[@jbills3000]

so true! Thanks for covering the crime wave TYT!💜

[@shekool18]

There's no crime wave. The facts show the opposite.

[@ryvyr]

Reaction to people being people under harsh socioeconomic circumstances seems akin to barking at the wind. We should focus on systemic critique where poverty correlates to crime.

[@heyyoitsmebrian]

we've got emojis of me, ana, john and JR

[@reeceh78]

What is this, tyt fasch?

[@antenna_prolly]

because it's usually the lawmakers and lawkeepers breaking the law

[@chrisjohnson2460]

Because it will cost a substantial amount of money to adress these problems which will have to come from the Budget, and the best way to do this is by closing tax loopholes to increase revenue and or cutting corperate tax breaks which will decrease their campaign donations.

[@MoneyWithKazeem]

I whole heartedly disagree with the sentiment expressed by Dr. Scofield. I don’t Progressive down play the issue of homelessness as much as it is portrayed in this video. Rather, I think progressives recognize that this is a multifaceted issues that encompasses multifaceted approaches. This kind of nymbihism suggested in this segment further perpetuates segregation and marginalization of this vulnerable population. Additionally, we must be mindful of the significant level of both emotional and physical violence that unhoused people face. By congregating them in one location it makes it easier for those that likes to inflict violence on this population to do so. It needs to be stated that addressing homelessness involves addressing the underlying factors that makes those people susceptible to those deplorable conditions.. eg. mental health, addictions and so forth. Part of learning to live with the in-house people is a constant reminder of how our society has failed these people and how we continue to fail them.

[@tehKap0w]

Agreed, Ana is comfortable failing these folks, so long as she doesn't have to see it.

[@vikingjnixed]

So, you scrimp and save and starve and chase every penny to buy a house And the following year a bum shelter opens next door… how do you feel

[@tehKap0w]

@@vikingjnixed I feel glad that folks have a warm, dry, safe place to simply exist.

[@ivanrodriguez268]

stop making excuses

[@jokerjay6975]

This isn't that complicated. It's all about framing. It's not that many progressives are afraid to talk about those issues. They do. They just don't want to talk about those issues under a right wing framework. Many just don't want to talk about it in isolation. If when discussing the problem the framing is "homelessness bad, let;s find solutions to reduce homelessness" then everything mentioned in this video (including the justifiable fears people have) can be discussed as part of the many 'cause/effect' issues of homelessness that would ultimately be reduced as a result. However if the framing is "homeless people bad, homeless people scary, let's find ways to punish homeless people and/or sweep them out of sight so decent folk are less scared or at risk"...then that kind of framing isn;t intended to create any positive or long term solution to homelessness at all! We all know that right wing strategists are good at hyperfocusing on the effects of a problem or issue while ignoring the cause....in fact they'll reverse engineer a 'cause' to whip the population into enough of an emotion driven frenzy so that they'll sign on to some horrendous "zero tolerance" solution to said scary problem. The usual distraction strategy, because the actual " caulse" of the problem is generated by something they benefit from (things that those pesky progressives keep trying to shine a light on). Yeah there are crazy lefties who call everyone nazis and fascists and refuse to engage or meet with anyone "where they are" for sure...but mostly it's about progressives trying to wrestle back the messaging and narrative building, and also trying to gain control of issue framing. Which can be a difficult needle to thread when trying not to bolster right wing talking points while at the same time not appearing dishonest! As I mentioned before, it's mostly progressives avoiding talking about these things in isolation.

[@heyitz_rj]

Ok, I don’t disagree that there is crime in the world and that there are issues to be addressed. However, I heavily DISAGREE with the approach. Nobody here is trying to let crime run rampant. The main issue is that the “solutions” people come up with are coming from an ignorant place and not a humanitarian place. I want these issues to be fixed as well but not in the way that a lot of ignorant people suggest. For example,forcing people with addictions into treatment when they don’t want to. Any therapists with half a brain will tell you why that’s a bad idea Anna lol. You are creating more harm for not just the people taking care of that person but the for the individual themselves. It’s not about ignoring these issues but allot of people who try to”fixing” these issues usually are coming from a place of privilege. All y’all really care about is not seeing people on the street while you enjoy your expensive dinners. Which shows character in my opinion.

[@christianlima987]

Bro can you explain why the humanitarian blue states have the most homeless.

[@Kittymancer78]

You stated it perfectly. You're absolutely correct.

[@bobby5678-ck2tc]

Your solutions we can see them all over your cities they are dumb and not formed in reality turn your life over to God instead of the devil/

[@DownBadDaddy]

Right...this is ana's NIMBY politics showing. Woe is her, beverly hills, 80k car having to drive by the poorsssss into work.

[@FairAndPracticalProgress]

Thank you for helping to keep the left grounded in reality Ana

[@ryvyr]

Reaction to people being people under harsh socioeconomic circumstances seems akin to barking at the wind. We should focus on systemic critique where poverty correlates to crime.

[@silkyslim2111]

Thank you! It’s racist to think I stand for crime and want to tolerate it just because I’m not white. Actually , I think it’s racist to leave our communities in this condition.

[@dannnnydannnn5201]

Did this guy just say “I spent 7 or 8 days in the tenderloin, I spent a lot of time there”? Is that all it takes to be an expert on the subject? This issue is complex and it’s not something that will be solved in a single electoral term. It’s going to take a real cultural shift and I’m sorry but wealthy professionals that cant be bothered to see the dirty homeless drug addicts on the way to their cushy jobs are not going to be the ones to frame a viable solution to this problem. Why not have working class people that are affected more so than anyone else on to talk about this issue more? Why only have on people that like to speak for these other communities? It comes off as fake and it falls flat.

[@Aannddeerrzz]

People of Seattle are being honest. Most people are truly unaffected by the homeless community.

[@waveygravey9347]

Remember a couple years ago when "Defund the Police" was a left wing slogan? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

[@cbwartzart]

Don't say that...the far left will start calling it Pepperidge Plantation

[@RedPillCosby-012]

So was Eugenics

[@cbwartzart]

@@iii___iii less than one minute in, Anna says She is ok with defund the police, but recognizes it can be misinterpreted, and what it really means is TAKING MONEY FROM POLICE TO GIVE TO OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES" so that is obvious support for the defund the police movement as a whole. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5PTn2SkYt2NoZo&ab_channel=TheYoungTurks

[@Mr.H-zu1jc]

Tyranny is not an acceptable crime reduction tactic.

[@popegeorgeringo840]

Do you even understand the policy positions behind "defend the police"? It's a trash slogan, but the policy positions just don't fit on a picket sign.

[@mgm8822]

I believe that Anna is genuine in her opinions. Some people on the left can’t handle any level of disagreement.

[@jasonejones77]

They can't handle people that actually call out b.S .....Because to them everything is racist and misogynistic.

[@DownBadDaddy]

@@jasonejones77 WHo is they? People are racist and misogynistic, hence why there are so many laws countering these issues. I think you are supposed to be on the Fox feed my boy.

[@MaliceInCandyland]

A young guy died suddenly right in front of my apartment too, and I'm in a city in Florida all the way across the country. Smh

[@LynkysIsDaCutestKittyEvr]

This saddens 😢me to hear. As a 38 yld man i’ve been chased, followed and almost gotten on fights with homeless people here in San Diego. I feel bad that younger generations have to got through this as well.

[@beng4647]

That was me. You dropped something. I was just trying to return it. 😁

[@LynkysIsDaCutestKittyEvr]

@@beng4647 jajajajajaja 😂😂😂😂

[@dsp8363]

Send zero foreign aid until all homelessness is solved.

[@Ocinneade345]

Landlordism should have been gone away a long time ago.

[@aynrandfan7454]

Shut up renter loser

[@amorizz5579]

​@@aynrandfan7454what is the purpose of this response? I probably agree that it's ridiculous to blame landlords, but it's equally pointless to throw out random insults.

[@KASC92]

I would have liked to have seen some data and solutions presented. Philosophy is nice, but it's abstract and doesn't really offer much beyond pontificating about a tangible problem. There were no numbers in this video, but I'd love to be convinced with some empirical arguments.

[@OK-pi6fq]

There is a definite connection with violence and more violent crime in poor areas versus other areas. I downplay it because in our history, where we have really as a government tried to do something about poverty. During those moments the first thing to go is malnourishment the first thing to gain is less crime and higher education, as in people seek higher education when they have an opportunity to do so in those areas and crime rates go way down when they have opportunities, since we’ve actually done this in our past and see the results every single time means that we know that being poor is a driving force of desperation. Eisenhower said we are the richest country in the world, and we should not have this kind of poverty that is above par of even the other wealthy nations, but we are so much more wealthy, that we should be the shiny example. Well, there is near no poverty. He said out to limit poverty, and by partisan in and out of his presidency he made major efforts to cut poverty, and in 10 years, he cut it in half. The governments that followed, removed everything that he done and poverty returned, and that means that our government 100% has control over poverty, and has chosen the level of poverty we have as reasonable and wanted by design. Which also means that they control the level of crime that goes with it. I don’t sympathize with crime criminals are everywhere. They’re even a nice places. The worst criminals are in nice places, but most crime can be ended

[@anacc3257]

There's just no point in getting offended with people wanting to craft effective policy to stop crime. Back in the day, both sides were in agreement that to deter crime and serve justice, you can't just ignore it, legalize it or hope that it'll go away with some half measures.

[@a.jlondon9039]

What would happen if manufacturing was brought back, people had decent jobs and pay?

[@do_not_want_to]

Capitalism was never the answer, and the more America embraces capitalism, the more corporate interests make America worse. Proven throughout history, globally, the only way to guarantee decent jobs and pay is through collective bargaining and protecting workers' rights (including the right to collective bargaining) through regulation (socialism). If you really want decent jobs and pay, you need to look at how various areas of the world have achieved such, and do the same. There are virtually no corporate interests (essentially none) that have established decent jobs and pay without being forced to by collective bargaining and/or regulations that protect workers' rights.

[@do_not_want_to]

@Matt-ru5rw Possibly, but as we do not know why the dude is acting as such, we cannot determine if his behaviour is due to a lack of a house and a job. Why don't you ask him and find out?

[@do_not_want_to]

@Matt-ru5rw I have actually experienced homelessness, as well as having to deal with homeless people on a regular basis at other times. I have experienced this, as opposed to what you are doing, propping up a possibly fictional homeless (straw?) man in order to tear down homeless people. How many homeless people have you ever had an honest and earnest conversation with? Without harrassing or verbally abusing them?

[@birdiegirl1622]

@@do_not_want_to why would you assume he harasses homeless people? I’ve befriended several homeless people in my neighborhood, have a lot of compassion for them but also can acknowledge that SF is going to hell. People aren’t getting the help they need, people are having to deal with issues beyond inconvenience and when people mention the problem we get scolded as you did here “ you hate homeless people? “ I didn’t know you’re a Republican” it’s juvenile and helps no one. Kasparian brings it up and gets trashed by people who say no one says there’s no problem.

[@do_not_want_to]

@@birdiegirl1622 I never said he harasses homeless people. I put it in as a qualifier to my question, as any person I know that "those people" anyone, probably does not treat the "other" very well. I was addressing his very real attack on my position, see "polyanna view" expression in his response, inferring that I have never dealt with homeless people, and he did, therefore "woke" etc. I have no doubt he may have dealt with homeless people, but my query relates to wanting to know if he has ever treated a homeless person respectfully. Nothing you brought up was in my posts. Read though them carefully and you will see that I have never scolded anyone, never said there were no problems, and I never said "You hate homeless people?" or "I didn't know you're a republican". You said these things. Considering all that, what are you actually trying to say? I am very curious, but either you are doing a poor job of articulating it, or perhaps you are just venting. Let us know.

[@forthesnowflakes7691]

Finally a deeper explanation in what I interpreted as tyt leaning right. A lot of the homelessness, open drug use and crime has come from some liberal policies but IMO wasn't well thought out and implemented for long term regarding drug harm prevention and housing regarding refusing help. And I'm talking about about SF. Police are prioritizing patrolling the wealthier neighborhoods and staying away from known crime areas in order to contain it versus prevent and stop it.

[@ivyseabreeze]

It would have been a better interview if they brought up his conversations with the homeless populations he saw. The interview came off sketchy as they talk about a community but not one quote about how those impacted would like to see improvements. It was a lot of ‘If I was in that situation” comments. Please do a follow up interview to discuss his conversations with people living in those communities.

[@charliebrewtoo]

The toilet facilities will get vandalized, turned over, etc. The other great suggestions he makes also will be subject to damage.

[@Dog.eatdog]

Thank you for reminding me why I unsubscribed a long time ago. You are a waste of time Ana!

[@yelnatsch517]

On the contrary, others like me who actually care about the truth and facts have subscribed. Prioritizing feelings only operate in privileged environments. This is why the left is the party of privilege, despite what they like to claim.

[@OhAwe]

@@yelnatsch517 It's certainly the case that those who're more economically disenfranchised and less educated tend to base things more on feelings than evidence.

[@DownBadDaddy]

@@yelnatsch517 whats the truth wand what are the facts....I mean if youre a fan of hers just say that. Progressives are not saying crime doesnt exist and that she is a liar?

[@faerykat]

Ana, I bet most of the people who complained about you haven't spent enough time in L.A.

[@reeceh78]

Actually, it’s almost all people who live in metropolitan areas with stagnating homelessness issues. Ana is pushing to have these people locked up and institutionalized so that the streets are cleansed for the petty bourgeoisie to feel safe sipping peppermint mochas and not being reminded of the rot at the center of our economies.

[@mE-zx7pt]

​@@reeceh78Exactly. Her solution is the same as Trump's.

[@ShawnPatton-rm2hv]

How is it different that we’re so concerned about people shooting up in public than people doing shot and perhaps binge drinking at a bar or restaurant?

[@FromTacoma]

One happens in a designated place that doesn’t allow minors. The other is out in public for all to see.

[@ShawnPatton-rm2hv]

@@FromTacoma so what if someone is allowed to see? Minors are allowed in restaurants where that could happen. Some cities/areas allow drinking in public as well.

[@FromTacoma]

@@ShawnPatton-rm2hv in both alcohol and the use of other drugs, I would say the laws are focused on public display of behavior. Think about public drunkenness. I would say that there is a double standard because watching someone drink versus watching someone shoot up is different in our society.

[@ShawnPatton-rm2hv]

@@FromTacoma why is it that way? That’s what I’m asking.

[@FromTacoma]

@@ShawnPatton-rm2hv I believe we are conditioned to see alcohol as more socially acceptable.

[@Kharmazov]

So glad I am living in Poland.

[@darquequeen]

So are we.

[@Kharmazov]

@@darquequeen Indeed because it is just a nice country to live in.

[@eternalrewind2190]

100 percent agree

[@beng4647]

Anna is the new Jimmy Dore.

[@ubuu7]

no

[@DAG924]

These people don't talk about zoning and parking laws, which are the biggest factor as to why we can't build more housing. 500 homeless people don't need any parking. They need a small room to live in. These can be 300-400$ units. This is affordable by minimum wage standards as well.

[@Living_Dead_Girrl]

We have the most apartments and homes sitting vacant in American history rn, the issue isn't building more housing - it's greed and price-gouging/price-fixing that's pricing entire populations out of cities en mass, including the middle class, and now people working paycheck to paycheck or on disability are facing evictions and homelessness because landlords are literally refusing to take rent payments made by the city in an attempt to save thousands more from becoming homeless as we speak for being a couple months behind on rent... All because landlords/management companies are retaliating on cities like LA, NYC, SF for passing rent control laws. They want long term tenants out so they can charge double. I'm facing this exact scenario rn as most of my friends have already left LA and moved back in with their parents in their 30s over the economic fall out of horrible early-Pandemic policies. I don't have a home to fallback on, only my black mold infested apt I want out of... But can't get out of because the landlord's trying to evict me in court, during which time they're refusing repairs, refusing to negotiate or settle - including talking ALL the check for all back rent owed (due to a social security payment glitch that was NOT my fault) because it's coming from the City of Los Angeles (which is illegal for them to refuse under LA law, but the Judges don't know anything & make money off of letting these cases drag on for up to a YEAR), and I can't move out in the middle of an eviction or I lose by default for "vacating." It's a nightmare. They can't charge the defendant rent during an eviction, and yet it's the landlord's attorneys who are dragging this out and missing deadlines to schedule the trial, racking up more months of not receiving my rent money... All because they want to demoralize me and wear me down, and get away with making me homeless so they can charge double rent for my unit (which they can do anyways I don't want to live with the black mold they covered up or under constant surveillance and harassment and retaliation), retaliate on me for speaking up about habitability issues, and prevent the city from fining them for the mold and being made to pay a mandatory relocation fee for non-fault evictions of rent controlled tenants. That one time payment for giving up a lifetime of a rent controlled apt is half of all the collective rent owed after they've prevented me from paying rent for 6 months for being 2 months behind on rent, not to mention how much they're paying their attorneys to make me homeless. All it takes to get in my situation is to get cancer... And ANYONE can get cancer. Anyone can become homeless at any time. And absolutely no one defends the homeless or the poor. It's insane to me the unhinged hyperbole of this video gets any traction... Absolutely everyone on the political spectrum hates the homeless and wants them rounded up into psychwards indefinitely without trial or charge... Despite being *poor* _not_ mentally ill. That's what's happening in California with the CARES Act. It's not illegal to be poor and you will go to the equivalent of a modern day insane asylum and have your legal personhood taken by the state under an LPS (mental health) Conservatorship. You lose the right to vote, consent, drive - everything. This is how they can forcibly institutionalize the poor, and drug them with antipsychotics until they can't get out of bed so private psychwards can make more money by needing less staff. And these facilities commit billions annually in Medicare & Medicaid Fraud... And yet, THIS is the current legal "solution" by Gov. Newsom for a POVERTY CRISIS. The housing crisis has nothing to do with lack of housing - stop enriching greedy developers. Landlords and management companies are solely responsible for creating ghost towns out of the biggest cities on Earth as we speak. Our best people are being priced out of their cities and states. And yet two rich lazy fools are tryna "culture war" this out for content because they're grifters.

[@do_not_want_to]

This is much better, Ana. The crime is bad reporting was not helpful. It tended to criminalize the impoverished and focus on the harm to corporate interests. Continue to focus on how crime hurts minorities, and what we, the general public, can do about it. I have always thought the important part about being progressive is educating one's self about what the underlying problems are, and how one can contribute to addressing those issues.

[@comochinganconesto]

You're almost there; what is the underlying problem with homelessness? what is the underlying problem with poverty?

[@do_not_want_to]

@@comochinganconesto Pretty much, the underlying problem with homelessness and poverty in America is that we as a society seem hell bent on punishing the impoverished as opposed to just helping them.

[@Cirex2118]

Debate Vaush on this topic.

[@sparkypete9221]

He is so polished in what he says until Anna asks why do you group those 2 things. Took him over 1 min with alot of stuttering to get started. Not making fun of him. Just a thought. Yeah crime is not good.

[@dsp8363]

Visited Seattle. Got my window smashed out and took a few things right on camera cops couldn’t do anything.

[@Rascal2944]

Couldn't or wouldn't?

[@dsp8363]

@@Rascal2944 couldn’t was homeless so they can’t prosecute them

[@belmiris1371]

Perhaps have some kind of 'camps' where we can 'concentrate' the homeless? Dude, focus on getting elected first. Then research ways to fix the issues humanely. Or, just take right wing money and start pivoting to the right.

[@maynardwayward12]

I have met my share of leftists who are pretty naive on issues of addiction and poverty. It's like you can't talk about the reality without being accused of stigmatizing people in this situation. What we need is a society that invests in people over corporations, so they don't become like this to begin with. And for those in this situation, there needs to be funding to help people who demonstrate a desire to change. Recovering addicts and former homeless people are often awesome people.

[@blktarockstar818]

Ana literally wants to lock up addicts in asylums. These clowns say outdoor camping as if the problem isn't affordable housing.

[@YearRoundHibernater]

Setting up areas for camping with facilities available is a great way to help the homeless, but it's a very different thing to ban camping everywhere that isn't those sites. There is a lot of addiction in the homeless community, and a lot of crime is done to feed those addictions and for any other reason. Forcing all of the homeless into one area just means that the victims of those criminal homeless people is far more likely to be other homeless people rather than the housed. It doesn't fix anything, it doesn't address any underlying causes or help anybody, it just hides it, and in the process of hiding it increases the pressures and difficulties of an already trodden-on class, and criminalises people not wanting to be victims if they try to get away from that situation by leaving the area.

[@cjohnson3836]

Localizing the afflicted population makes resource allocation for all the things you are talking about more efficient. And efficiency means implementation.

[@beng4647]

Shut up

[@TheKickPuncher]

When people are already homeless, restricting their right to freedom of movement seems wrong to me.

[@YearRoundHibernater]

@@cjohnson3836 Yes, but how do 'localise a population'? pack them into trucks and take them there? what happens if they don't want to be there, because of all that drug use and crime? can they leave, will they be arrested, or picked back up and returned? are they stuck there all day or is it about tents and sleeping bags in the road? if they can leave legally under this system, what happens to the few belongings they possess? do they have to carry their tents with them or will they be looked after when they leave for the day? or risk them being stolen if they leave them there, 'you're free to leave but let's hope your shits still here when you return' is threat to keep people contained and is what is implied in these kinds of arrangments. Shelters exist already and they help many people, also a lot of people don't go to shelters because of fear and prior bad experiences, forcing people into these positions against there wishes is not a progressive stance. To go back to my point. Providing facilities to help people in a locallised area so that people know where to go to get resources and help and it not being so spread out to be burdensome to travel around to different areas is a great thing. But forcing people into areas is an entirely different matter, and framing it as a way to help people to discuise the fact that the realities of what you're advocating for is a mix between a ghetto and concentration camp, is deeply disturbing Orwelian shit.

[@jameshurst6119]

I do not trust that dude,b very careful.

[@ryvyr]

The problem seems division on where to focus - reaction to surface vs systemic critique. I was constantly angered living Tacoma, not at people being people but rather preventable systemic poverty and correlated crime.

[@cassondralynch6342]

Great and accurate post. I haven't listened to this and didn't mean to put it on lol but I feel like Ana from what I've heard is very surface on crime and poverty and it's barf worthy. I'm from Lakewood! When did you live in Tacoma? :)

[@ryvyr]

@@cassondralynch6342 Reactions devoid of built in charity to potential counters tend to trigger my own err.. reaction.. in the form of substance where it seems void ^^;; Per Tacoma it was a few years back for a portion of my longterm PhD, and I miss Washington and people befriended so very dearly ;w; One of my friends who moved with me from Tennessee stayed and now lives in Lakewood or Yelm if I recall~ Hopefully I can return sooner or later for a time or longer.

[@TracyInsomiac]

Ana’s friends send her that clip about Fox News in Seattle? Who you hanging out with?

[@EastSide-qc5oy]

What does that mean? I saw that clip myself when it came out. What does it have to do with who she is hanging out with?

[@lilmoe4364]

She must be taking money from the wrong people..she can't be dumb enough to fall for this crap. Or can she?

[@byrons1339]

I love progressive secular cities. People are much more happier without religion, family structure, no stress and smoke whatever they want regardless of the local laws.

[@jogmas12]

Progressive and liberals are concerned about crime too

[@jackkanoff6265]

Too bad toxic empathy gets in the way.

[@geraldvance7925]

That's only because the problem is so out of control now they can no longer deny it. Plus people are leaving the left because of the crime issue now that they're crime is spilling into nicer communities.

[@JeffreySmith84]

Commenting on this issue in any way that doesn't conform to leftist and liberal orthodoxy gets labeled as "hate speech. Even in the KZbin comments section.

[@therealjammit]

The lady that was interviewed was wrong, but she did answer the question about crime.

[@coolsteralpha]

i agree w ana highlighting these issues, im a progressive bc i want society improved

[@erlinggaratun6726]

If you can find the answer to what fuels the 'libertarian' streak in progressives, you might also find the key to the resistance to gun debate on the right..

[@Matty-o9p]

Bail reform has been a total disaster. Thanks a lot progressives

[@Mr.H-zu1jc]

Tyranny is not an acceptable crime reduction tactic.

[@mikew6060]

​​@Mr.H-zu1jc what tyranny are you talking about? Or are you just mentally ill individual that just follows the mob

[@Matty-o9p]

@@Mr.H-zu1jc Tyranny in America? Huh?

[@popegeorgeringo840]

​@user-uv7mf2tt2c You know...Trump?

[@sparkypete9221]

Why do WE always highlight the smallest minority of the left , and then strawman that we all think Like that on avg. We all never agreed shop lifting isn't a bad thing. Same as other topics. I guess all media does it. But the minority sometimes is so small , their wring view should never be amplified..

[@avneeshluthra5803]

then why do you defend it?

[@maryanneDB]

Because the smallest minority are running the policies on this subject matter.

[@ravenward626]

It seems pretty straight forward. Poverty and homelessness sucks. Drugs are cheaper than both rent and hope. Theft can be a more economical use of time than employment that doesn't cover the cost of living. A lot of mental health issues can develop or become exacerbated by being treated as pariahs to those who can still keep their heads above water. It's good that people are talking about it because the way things are now it's only going to get worse. I can only hope that someone will help organize the growing number of homeless into doing something about it themselves, as the unwanted dregs of society they have no leverage in politics, no one else is going to invest in them. If people aren't willing to address the root problems then you should start looking at coping strategies.

[@jasonamrhein9593]

I'm a proud Bernie voter and I too appreciate coverage of crime that goes further than "cops bad."

[@an-gw8nx]

Anyone saying people should be free to do hard drugs and just left to it have no idea what they are talking about, I was an addiction worker for years and the people i worked with for the most part lived a miserable existence, it certainly wasn't living a happy life, they had to do things they were ashamed of and was dangerous to help fund their habit and were disconnected from their families, they need help to get clean, a lot of the people who think being super liberal on this matter grew up in middle class homes and have no idea how hard it is to live on the poverty line.

[@travisjones640]

Misguided compassion

[@menudobucket9837]

Unfortunately, the cost associated with getting elected brings the one who wins the office into a position of power which, prior to being elected was unknown to them and they probably find the transition somewhat akin to the story of the prince and the pauper. Trying to navigate the logistics of that kind of a situation is probably a bit overwhelming at first, and by the time they find their footing, they’ve succumbed to the effects that they see big money having on their colleagues and without realizing it, they become swept up in that same atmosphere. The difference between being an effective representative and having to earn a living becomes obscured and the role that money once played takes on a whole new level of consequence. They’re soon put out of touch with the peonage from which they came and have learned to speak a whole new language. One that separates them and keeps them separate. Since it seems that it always boils down to the intersection of having and not having money, it makes sense to safely assume that the solution lies in the development of a much more egalitarian society and the elimination of the wealth gap. The real crime isn’t that of petty thievery. It’s of the lives being stolen by the most wealthy among us who use their money as a weapon against us to buy political injustices and make us pay for our own enslavement through a tax system that allows them to avoid paying for their own gentrified communities.

[@haitileblanc3075]

I like the homeless section idea. I’m not calling it camping ⛺️

[@ShawnPatton-rm2hv]

Part of perhaps the reason that we can’t drink in some public places is the revenue that cities/states receive from alcohol licensing.

[@mightyturkeyneck3498]

I love in a neighbourhood teeming with unhoused people-- I've never dealt with harassment, defecation, impassable sidewalks. The unhoused are a valued part of our community. From my perspective, this is demonization.

[@ross23233]

then you should invite at least one unhoused to live with you

[@ross23233]

@@povertyspec9651 what your point, people who can't contribute what we do with them?? Are they not worth it?

[@milascave2]

Obviously, homelessness is a real problem, but for the homeless and the general population. We have to look at the causes. It is very hard to solve problems that took about 44 years to create. And of course, it's not right that all the homeless have been concentrated in poor neighborhoods.

[@crystalcampbell79]

Instead of saying those are the places you go if you have an addiction, you could say those are the places you go, if you use substances

[@CoolBreeze250]

The Bible tells us to not put our trust in human leaders. (Psalms 146:3) That's because many of them don't have the ability or the desire to fix the problems of many communities. They fail to meet the needs of their citizens because they have self-serving interests. However, many people cause their own problems. For instance, illicit drug use is rampant in many cities across the country. I know that many people on this channel don't like to listen to Bible talk, but ignoring Bible principles often has disastrous results. For example, the Bible tells us to "cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit." (2Corinthians 7:1) Abusing drugs is an example of defiling the flesh. Many people are homeless because of their drug addiction. Instead of buying drugs, they could save up enough money to rent an apartment or a room at an extended stay hotel. People reap the negative consequences of their poor choices. (Galatians 6:7, 8) Granted, sometimes time and unexpected events beyond their control happen to them. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) But most of the time people suffer because of their bad choices. People have to stop politicizing these issues because it's not a political issue; it's a moral issue. The Bible foretold that there would be an "increasing of lawlessness" and that "critical times hard to deal with will be here."--Matthew 24:12; 2Timothy 3:1.