Toward a More Perfect Union: A Prescriptive Approach — Homelessness
Homelessness
As recently as 1980, widespread homelessness in the U.S. was not on most peoples’ radar. It existed, but the number of people caught in its grip was relatively small. The main reason for the decline in homelessness was the social programs to help the poor that had grown up in the wake of LBJ’s war on poverty and related programs.
Then along came Reagan with his massive tax cuts that took a large bite out of those social programs. Homelessness skyrocketed and has been a major social concern ever since. The unrelenting efforts by the right wing to cut taxes and social programs. Rather than relieving the problem, the tax cuts exacerbated it so that now the problem is easily seen – and seldom attacked – in every city.
The right wing would have us believe that homelessness is a symptom of personal failure on the part of those experiencing it. If that were the case, it would have been as apparent in the 1970’s as it is today. The real causes are the decline in equal opportunity, equal access to education, access to good jobs, and the expansion of gaps in economic status where the rich get richer at the expense of the poor. While personal failure may play a role in the destitution of some, the far greater cause is simply lack of access to the economy and misfortune.
No one seeks homelessness as a goal, and when given the opportunity to improve one’s lot, there is little resistance to doing so. The problem is that, to pull oneself up by one’s bootstraps, one must first have boots. When one has nothing, it is like being cast adrift in mid-ocean without any floating devices to keep one out of the water. In such circumstances it does not take long for that person to drown in despair and helplessness.
The answer to the question of where all the homeless people come from is complex. There are single mothers without any resources, people whose misfortunes in life have proven too onerous, drug addicts, and mentally ill individuals. The largest identifiable contingent of homeless people are the veterans. Veterans have returned from service to a nation that gives lip service in praise but ignores their service by making it difficult to find work and support for their issues. Often their personal lives have been disrupted by family issues, divorce, drugs, anger mismanagement, and the like. The most salient issue is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which can affect people in all walks of life, but which is most pronounced among veterans. There are the physical disabilities suffered by wounded veterans, but the mental stress created by wartime experiences combined with lack of social support is as important if less visible.
Some cities, like Portland and Kansas City, are starting an effort to tackle this problem by providing small prefabricated homes to homeless people. So far, such efforts are subject to local charity and city funds, but even so they have shown signs of improving the situation while reducing the cost of policing the homeless people. By providing figurative boots and bootstraps, these programs are enabling the homeless to become contributing members of society.
The role of government in this should be much greater than it is. Rather than discard the “wretched refuse” of society, the “Christian duty” to care for one’s neighbor would show a commitment to our cultural ideals while adding taxpayers and saving lives and families. Some of the tax money that goes to enriching billionaires and buttressing our war-making abilities could be diverted to social programs that are desperately needed, including the reduction of homelessness. While states can and should take ownership of this process, the federal government can – and should – insure that more of its tax money is also used in a similar fashion. The federal government can also insure that the programs are administered fairly and equally across the nation.
It should be noted that in its efforts to cut expenses, the right wing focuses exclusively on social and progressive programs which hurt the homeless, while adding to the military. These social programs collectively make up such a small percentage of the federal budget (even prior to massive cuts) that there is no way that castrating them can significantly add money to the treasury. The budget for “defense” constitutes more than half our federal spending and is the primary program that – if some of its funding is diverted to social betterment – could provide enough tax money to bring black ink back to the federal treasury. Even the leaders of the defense department concur that they do not need as much as is budgeted for them.
Again, with the right wing and its regressive priorities in control of government, the hope for significant improvements in this area necessarily awaits a more progressive body of legislators, and THAT depends on active voters.
Continued in Part 19 — Trade & Tariffs
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Return to Part 1 — Prologue
Return to Part 2 — Voting & Election Issues
Return to Part 3 — Gerrymandering & Courts
Return to Part 4 — Congress
Return to Part 5 — President and DOJ
Return to Part 6 — Campaign Financing
Return to Part 7 — Lying and Ethics
Return to Part 8 — Sexism and LGBT
Return to Part 9 — Abortion & Church/State
Return to Part 10 — Guns
Return to Part 11 — Healthcare & VA
Return to Part 12 — Big Pharma
Return to Part 13 — Environment
Return to Part 14 — Energy
Return to Part 15 — Education
Return to Part 16 — Economics
Return to Part 17 — Unions, Safety Net
Go to Part 20 — Media
Go to Part 21 — War, National Security
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Above is the eighteenth of numerous submissions wherein I suggest ways our country, our government, and the world can be made better. I am an old fart in my 70’s and have seen much: the turmoil of the 1960’s; Vietnam (where I served as an infantry officer and was awarded a purple heart and other medals); the anti-Vietnam protests (in which I participated while still in uniform); Watergate, the rise of the right wing attack on the poor and powerless during and after the Reagan years; the continued wars in Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan and pretty much everywhere else; the Clinton years, the invasion of Iraq in 2002 and the never-ending war since; the brief glow of sunshine during the Obama years; and now Trump. While my dog in this fight is getting long in the tooth, I still deeply care about three things: my country, my country’s honor, and the future we leave to our descendants. My personal history, other than military service, includes college teaching, computer support, hospital IT supervision, consulting, and now — in my retirement — substitute teaching.
I make my recommendations in all seriousness, recognizing that most of them are not immediately attainable. Nevertheless, if we elect people who share our values as our representatives at all levels of government, we can accomplish much.