Homelessness in California

JimmyinSD wrote:
From what ive read and heard is their state programs on down are designed to fail,  they actually have been funded heavier by the more homeless that they have,  and of course the policies allow for % of funding that go to wages for those running the programs.  The bigger the problem,  the more they make.  Other state policies like legalized drug use,  and open door immigration policies,  not to mention high tax rates forcing businesses (jobs) to leave the state are just adding to the issue. Its a sad state of affairs that will only spread with poor policy and management by bloated govt agencies. Mental health is also a huge part,  but we cant have a serious discussion on that until we seriously look at whats causing the elvated numbers,  some is better identifying those affected,  but part is more issues,  why would that be in a time of " better health care"  whats making huge percentage increases in mental disorders?  Perhaps RFKj is right,  we need to look at big pharma and what is being pumped into our children.  Very complex problem,  with a multitude of causes,  is going to take a preventive approach to correct,  not just throwing more money at the problem,  look at our reservations and inner cities as an example of money not fixing problems.  Tax dollars need to fund solutions, not therapeutics IMO.

I think I read Portland finally stopped giving drug addicts drugs in downtown. I don't think legalized marijuana use is the cause of any of this, but mental health and hardcore heroin/opiod/fentanyl addiction is. Throwing money at the problem rarely if ever works. Big Pharma is a problem (see opiod crisis), but with children all you have to look at is the parents not wanting to parent and just using a magic pill to try and make it all better. I see that every day. But I digress because none of that (children/pharma) is the cause of homelessness and what to do.  Downtown Los Angeles is a shit show.

JimmyinSD wrote:
I dont think pot is a problem for a lot of people,  but i also have seen a lot of people that it does affect negatively and they lose ambition and ultimately their jobs which leads to other issues like harder drugs and homelessness.  Pot is no worse than booze,  but just like booze it can become much more than a way to wind down,  or have fun with friends.  I think early on those states that legalized pot became a draw for those that not only were going for the pot vacations,  but also those that were looking for a more accepting atmosphere and fell victim to their addictions. I never thought legalizing pot was a smart move,  decriminalizng yes,  let people grow their own if they want,  but allowong it to be legally sold,  and with what agricultural advances have done to magnify its high,  not to mention it getting laced with all sorts of shit, legalized pot has to be part the conversation as the homeless issue seems to be worse in areas of more liberal drug policies and use,  but as i said previously,  hardly the only cause.

If its no 'worse than alcohol', than who cares?? Ask any ER doctor what is worse for humanity: pot or alcohol. I think it would be illuminating for you. Again, not trying to be an asshole, but you live in Bumfuck, Egypt.

Kentis wrote:
[b]I think they should just put ‘em on a bus to Florida, they’ll know how to handle them!!! :angel:[/b]

We have enough already thanks! ;)

Bullazin wrote:
I still don’t see any of that affecting you. How so?  If not gratitude then how about acceptance of the facts.  Homelessness is a societal failure due mainly to income inequality. If you look at a homeless map you will see it is concentrated in high housing cost areas. It’s not a choice by a huge margin.

Way more complicated than that. Also, mental health and drug abuse are much more prominent issues than income inequality.

supafreak84 wrote:
It's a good question, and I'd have to say a major part in addressing the health crisis is to stop the fentynol and other drugs flooding through our southern border. Not sure if everybody has seen a camp of fentynol addicts but it's literally like something out of the Walking Dead. I'd think the mental institutions would have to be state ran (which is scary in states like California) with some independent oversight at the federal level. Sorry, but you have the right to live free, however you do not have the right to infringe upon the common rights of others, or become a danger to others by way of your mental illness/substance abuse and the fact that you refuse or are incapable of taking the appropriate medications prescribed to you. That's a major problem in California. You can 5150 someone, but they hold them just long enough for the drugs to wear off then they kick them out the door with a prescription and a follow up doctors appointment when most of these people aren't even capable of tying their own shoes much less being put in charge of theor own health and wellbeing. It's a totally broken system that hasn't worked spurned on by a lax criminal justice system. These politicians don't have to deal with the problems created by their own policies, it's the every day folks like you and I that have to. Scumbags like Gavin Newsome don't care because it doesn't effect his daily life.

Most of the fentanyl is manufactured in China (and more recently India) that gets to the U.S. For sure, much then gets here via Mexico from the South...but some even from Canada, as that's where the Indian manufactured product comes in from. But the scary part is it soon will be manufactured in other areas because of below: From the DEA: "Fentanyl production and precursor chemical sourcing may also expand beyond the currently identified countries as fentanyl lacks the geographic source boundaries of heroin and cocaine as these must be produced from plant-based materials." That's why 90% of the cocaine in the U.S. is from Columbia.