RFK Jr. is the only real candidate running who has a strong compassionate heart for all people. I am a lifelong Democrat and was rooting for Tulsi in 2020. I am beyond inspired and excited by all of RFK Jr’s ideas and policies that he will enact once he becomes our president. Keep visualizing a grass roots movement like we have never seen before. It’s happening! I am cheering 📣 RFK Jr. and the entire team from my home in Iceland, a nation that is never had a military. This is the home of the peace summit with Reagan and Gorbachev. Let’s all make history together.
Homelessness has been encouraged by policies, give money to not work. Yes there is a mental, drug, etc epidemic but a solution is not keep throwing money at it. We need to help these people, yes, but not just by providing food, shelter and smokes and other things, we need to get them back to society the ones that can. For some that are lost, we need to help them quit any addiction they might have. To the ones that cannot be productive we can help them.
At least RFK Jr is talking about the issues. All the rest are ignoring the problems. Albeit Trump does understand we need to produce oil (solar is no where near technologically viable yet) and we need to close the border.
If nothing else my candidate is bring up real issues of concern and proposing solutions. Biden is just hiding behind his “woke” bs and doesn’t give a damn about the majority of Americans.
"State and local governmental attempts to rein in the problem consistently fail…"
That's because unlike the federal government state and local governments rely on taxes (and whatever the feds see fit to provide, which is rarely close to being adequate) to provide services. Any attempt to increase services to the homeless requires robbing Peter, and given the contempt in which the homeless are held by those who likely pay the most taxes it's a recipe for failure.
However, something glaringly missing from any discussion of providing social services is means testing. The basis for eligibility for services is so impossibly low most people can't qualify despite there being no question they need it. My husband and I can't qualify for senior housing programs because he's an "independent contractor". As a result, his gross income—the only criterion for means-tested programs—is twice his actual income because it doesn't take his business expenses into consideration.
If income is going to be used as an eligibility criterion, it needs to be set at the real cost of living and made adjustable to same.
As for housing, unless and until rules are made that prohibit landlords from refusing to accept Section 8, or jacking up the rents so they're too high to qualify, expanding that program will just be another exercise in futility. And yes, I do speak from personal experience.
Thank you for sharing, Liz. It's very valuable to hear your experience in such detail. You're highlighting areas where policy discussions need to go deeper, for sure.
“How do other countries handle their homeless problem? I know that in many 3rd world countries people are born, live their lives and die on the street while the rich and well-off ignore them and pass them by.
“I hope that when RFK,Jr. becomes our President he establishes a task force of the best minds and the most experienced to handle this problem. Sort of like Franklin Roosevelt’s Brain Trust.
“Homelessness is a national disgrace. Let’s assemble the best American minds and hearts to fix it.”
One of the first things that I disagree with Kennedy on. Unions are not the answer. They seem to only enrich the people at the top. I have had family members that have been a part of them and only made minimum wage. Then on top of that they take dues and such.
And that is the prize. Union dues are stolen and wasted by union execs. Used to buy legislation that burdens poor Americans with higher costs. Same as any bureaucracy. The biggest burden on the USA is the public employee and teachers unions. Government must be reduced at all levels.
If union rank-and-file don't like how their "leaders" are handling things, it's their job to do something about it. Unions are and always have been democratic organizations, but somewhere people got the idea they're a representative democracy, with the inevitable result the people running them opted to collude with the bosses. If people want democracy, they have to get it through their heads it's THEIR job to make sure it's running the way it's supposed to; and it's a 24/7/365 responsibility.
Which, of course, only works when the means for members to take action still exist. During the COVID-19 era, for example, virtually every attempt to push back on the "majority rule" approach (on mandates, etc.) failed. In other words, if unions are going to work, they need to be set up for internal accountability, as you describe.
Wherever Section 8 vouchers are given and used to move these people into apartments paid for by wage earners, crime follows. Sorry, but that’s the truth. About 25 years ago they moved into a nice neighborhood in northeast Dallas. Within a couple of years all the nice restaurants and businesses moved out.
Most of these people don’t want to work and giving them section 8 money is not the answer.
I guaran-f’n -tee you that no section 8 will ever be in Kennedy’s neighborhood. F..k him and all the rest of the government pieces of 💩.
This entire subject has been finally given a coherent mission statement of sorts, that spells out a clear idea of using a multitude of comprehensive ideas to combat homelessness. I am impressed that Kennedy seems unafraid to take on and address opposing points of view.
The long and short of it: I spent 11 years living in tents, renting rooms, bartering for a room and living out of my car.
My adult daughter, who is doing well financially, put the down payment and closing costs on a kinda ramshackle old farm house in the country for me to live in. It feels like a mansion and a miracle to have my own place to live in.
I love you, Bobby. I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for caring about people like me.
If he doesn't know the CDC AND WHO are totally corrupt, bought "organizations " he should not run for anything...we don't need another "leader" giving corruption a pass...we need all corrupt players PROSECUTED
oh he's not "hiding" anything. ISREAL is an APARTHEID STATE yet he just loves those terrorists...AND when asked how he would handle a "pandemic" he states " follow the CDC and WHO"... yeah, NO! Those are wolf in sheeps clothing words
When did people start living on the street? I think it was the 1980's. The crack cocaine epidemic. And something Reagan did. I forget what it was! Do others remember how homelessness started and when?
RFK Jr. is the only real candidate running who has a strong compassionate heart for all people. I am a lifelong Democrat and was rooting for Tulsi in 2020. I am beyond inspired and excited by all of RFK Jr’s ideas and policies that he will enact once he becomes our president. Keep visualizing a grass roots movement like we have never seen before. It’s happening! I am cheering 📣 RFK Jr. and the entire team from my home in Iceland, a nation that is never had a military. This is the home of the peace summit with Reagan and Gorbachev. Let’s all make history together.
Homelessness has been encouraged by policies, give money to not work. Yes there is a mental, drug, etc epidemic but a solution is not keep throwing money at it. We need to help these people, yes, but not just by providing food, shelter and smokes and other things, we need to get them back to society the ones that can. For some that are lost, we need to help them quit any addiction they might have. To the ones that cannot be productive we can help them.
At least RFK Jr is talking about the issues. All the rest are ignoring the problems. Albeit Trump does understand we need to produce oil (solar is no where near technologically viable yet) and we need to close the border.
If nothing else my candidate is bring up real issues of concern and proposing solutions. Biden is just hiding behind his “woke” bs and doesn’t give a damn about the majority of Americans.
Exactly - it's odd how many candidates seem to think the issues that plague them are the same ones Americans care about.
"State and local governmental attempts to rein in the problem consistently fail…"
That's because unlike the federal government state and local governments rely on taxes (and whatever the feds see fit to provide, which is rarely close to being adequate) to provide services. Any attempt to increase services to the homeless requires robbing Peter, and given the contempt in which the homeless are held by those who likely pay the most taxes it's a recipe for failure.
However, something glaringly missing from any discussion of providing social services is means testing. The basis for eligibility for services is so impossibly low most people can't qualify despite there being no question they need it. My husband and I can't qualify for senior housing programs because he's an "independent contractor". As a result, his gross income—the only criterion for means-tested programs—is twice his actual income because it doesn't take his business expenses into consideration.
If income is going to be used as an eligibility criterion, it needs to be set at the real cost of living and made adjustable to same.
As for housing, unless and until rules are made that prohibit landlords from refusing to accept Section 8, or jacking up the rents so they're too high to qualify, expanding that program will just be another exercise in futility. And yes, I do speak from personal experience.
Thank you for sharing, Liz. It's very valuable to hear your experience in such detail. You're highlighting areas where policy discussions need to go deeper, for sure.
“How do other countries handle their homeless problem? I know that in many 3rd world countries people are born, live their lives and die on the street while the rich and well-off ignore them and pass them by.
“I hope that when RFK,Jr. becomes our President he establishes a task force of the best minds and the most experienced to handle this problem. Sort of like Franklin Roosevelt’s Brain Trust.
“Homelessness is a national disgrace. Let’s assemble the best American minds and hearts to fix it.”
One of the first things that I disagree with Kennedy on. Unions are not the answer. They seem to only enrich the people at the top. I have had family members that have been a part of them and only made minimum wage. Then on top of that they take dues and such.
And that is the prize. Union dues are stolen and wasted by union execs. Used to buy legislation that burdens poor Americans with higher costs. Same as any bureaucracy. The biggest burden on the USA is the public employee and teachers unions. Government must be reduced at all levels.
If union rank-and-file don't like how their "leaders" are handling things, it's their job to do something about it. Unions are and always have been democratic organizations, but somewhere people got the idea they're a representative democracy, with the inevitable result the people running them opted to collude with the bosses. If people want democracy, they have to get it through their heads it's THEIR job to make sure it's running the way it's supposed to; and it's a 24/7/365 responsibility.
Which, of course, only works when the means for members to take action still exist. During the COVID-19 era, for example, virtually every attempt to push back on the "majority rule" approach (on mandates, etc.) failed. In other words, if unions are going to work, they need to be set up for internal accountability, as you describe.
oh and how about the infamous CHRISTMAS PARTY...
Wherever Section 8 vouchers are given and used to move these people into apartments paid for by wage earners, crime follows. Sorry, but that’s the truth. About 25 years ago they moved into a nice neighborhood in northeast Dallas. Within a couple of years all the nice restaurants and businesses moved out.
Most of these people don’t want to work and giving them section 8 money is not the answer.
I guaran-f’n -tee you that no section 8 will ever be in Kennedy’s neighborhood. F..k him and all the rest of the government pieces of 💩.
This entire subject has been finally given a coherent mission statement of sorts, that spells out a clear idea of using a multitude of comprehensive ideas to combat homelessness. I am impressed that Kennedy seems unafraid to take on and address opposing points of view.
The long and short of it: I spent 11 years living in tents, renting rooms, bartering for a room and living out of my car.
My adult daughter, who is doing well financially, put the down payment and closing costs on a kinda ramshackle old farm house in the country for me to live in. It feels like a mansion and a miracle to have my own place to live in.
I love you, Bobby. I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for caring about people like me.
Why isn’t the Great and Wonderful California Governor talking like this?
I think you've answered your own question!
RFK is a TROJAN HORSE
Specifically what is he hiding?
Yes, it would be valuable to hear on what basis Victoria believes this.
so , "valuable " enough???
and he better start talking about holding all the "COVID" murderers ACCOUNTABLE or he will be run off the campaign trail
If he doesn't know the CDC AND WHO are totally corrupt, bought "organizations " he should not run for anything...we don't need another "leader" giving corruption a pass...we need all corrupt players PROSECUTED
oh he's not "hiding" anything. ISREAL is an APARTHEID STATE yet he just loves those terrorists...AND when asked how he would handle a "pandemic" he states " follow the CDC and WHO"... yeah, NO! Those are wolf in sheeps clothing words
When did people start living on the street? I think it was the 1980's. The crack cocaine epidemic. And something Reagan did. I forget what it was! Do others remember how homelessness started and when?
Here is a good article from Public on substack which talks about SF attracting people from all over who are addicts. https://open.substack.com/pub/public/p/sam-quinones-drug-addiction-driving?r=1jzb30&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post