A New York man is sewing two homeless people for over 1 million dollars. Knowing full well that the duo is unable to pay, the man is setting the stage for the argument of “what to do with the homeless.”
The case, which is being pushed by the store owner of a ritzy antic shop, is legit – I wouldn’t want anyone urinating, peddling and warming themselves on a heat vent out side of my store either. “Its bad for business” says the store owner.
I fully agree with him.
Here is a man who pays taxes and employees people for a living. Now, his livelihood is at risk because customers are scared away by gathering homeless people in front of his store. If you think of it, this man is a victim of the system he pays in to. It isn’t his fault these people are homeless but now it’s his burden when they camp in front of his store.
Now, I am sure there are many people who would shun at this man for being so heartless and mean. Even I will admit that suing the homeless is a little over the top but as an individual, it’s not his job to deal with this problem. He has no obligation to charity.
So what do you do? There are many programs out there for homeless people. Places they can stay and places to eat. The problem is bigger than that though I think. It has to be more than just giving them a place to shack up. What do we expect from the homeless? That they would get off their lazy ass and get a job like the rest of us? I’m sensing a little problem in the hiring process when the gentleman who slept in your garbage the night before is now asking to be hired.
The truth is; living in a society based on consuming for oneself where everyone is looked at to stand on their own two feet and chip in, doesn’t leave much room for the marginalized that can’t help themselves.
What to do with the homeless? Maybe the question should be re-coined; “what to do with us?”
#1 by Dan on January 23rd, 2007
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Interesting story. In many cases though, there are so many complicating factors that afflict the homeless. While many people may be put out on the street by job loss, family disintegration or other life traumas many others suffer from mental illness that render it very difficult for them to ever be able to contribute to society.
Walking around Yonge and Bloor last night I passed one such man loudly ranting about the police being everywhere and spying on him. Then he shouted an ethnic slur at two Asian girls before asking them for a cigarette. I have no idea what plagues this man, but I’m sure it renders him unemployable (unless there’s an opening for a talk radio host).
In a very real sense some of the homeless may never be able to help themselves.
#2 by Adrienne on January 26th, 2007
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Kudos, to both of you. Ya, a lot of homeless people choose to be homeless. Who wants to live on meds all their life inside some dreary institution. I would take a little bit of frost bite and a little bit of sun burn over the confines of a mental institution AKA drug prison.