There is a point at which political demagoguery needs to be recognized for what it is: a gathering of uninformed, reasonably well-off citizens' sympathy for their alleged plight in order to blame the victims of failed public measures with no positive proposals beyond the righteous-sounding "enforce the law harshly, and deterrence will achieve a good end." Since Mayor Pulliam places the blame for "Homelessness" on one political party's failure to eradicate the problem, I must point out that the other political party's response for the past decade (at least) is to oppose the first party's suggestions without offering any practical alternatives. This opposition must stop. Republicans must take responsibility even when they're the loyal opposition. Sure, oppose suggestions that are unlikely to work, but then propose other suggestions, positive ones.
Even if we locked up the criminals among the homeless, the roots of our problem would remain. Our society has used deterrence to lower the incidence of criminal behavior for centuries, and we've seen that deterrence does not work. We need to figure out what does.
If the phrase "mental health" means more than "get them off the streets," we have to realize that helping emotionally and psychologically suffering people is going to cost us. We need to renovate the whole social-support network: more social workers and well-educated mental health professionals, more education of police about how to recognize emotional distress, more publicly financed safe places for homeless people to live, and far less stigma and blame.
As for the need to keep adult(s) in the room, oh, yes! but "adult" is not synonymous with "parent." Assuming the role of one who has the right and duty to tell others what to do and not do insults them; it's a powerful stimulus for the others to resist, to resent, to disobey, to behave just as naughty children do.
People who want more law and more police as a solution to homelessness are guilty of ignoring the cost as much as social warriors do.
First we must come up with a law that will stand up constitutionality that allows us to legally impose mandatory substance abuse treatment. So far the the legal community has failed at that, no treatment facility can hold anyone against their will. They must be convicted of a felony and go into treatment in lieu of prison. They can still walk away once they get there.
Let's start adding up costs. Say we only have 1,500 homeless drug addicts and alcoholics in Portland. Under this policy that requires 1,500 investigations, arrests, bookings,incarcerations, preliminary hearings, trials, sentencings, and commitment.
This is an outdated perspective on the homeless population, and wasn't even true forty years ago when the Reagan administration combined with well-meaning mental health professionals seeking to reform a broken system took the first steps toward the policies which now lead to our current homeless epidemic.
Mayor Pulliam, I used to teach in the Oregon Trail School District, up in Welches. We had a homeless problem up there. I saw the face of homelessness, and the element you are trying to portray as criminal is not as predominant as you claim it being. Does that element exist? Oh yes. But untreated mental illness and crime frequently go hand-in-hand. That needs to be acknowledged and dealt with.
Sounds good but probably will not work. There are to many liberal democrats in public office to effect any changes. Policy needs to be specific and enforceable. 1. No public camping in areas not approved. 2. Offenses carry mandatory punishment. 3. Habitual offenders deported to a 3rd world country. 4. Hold government officials accountable . This is just a start.
Sounds like a great plan to me. Obviously will need some adjust
Ing as time goes but at least its a plan which we dont have right now. My question has always been where the cities, counties, or state provides an area for these encampments s who is going to provide a periodic cleanup? Will it be a conditional free space provided they police themselves or will we have to provide a public work crew to handle it. I for sure would not want the job
Excellent direction and ideas Stan. Thank you for offering a solution that works for both the folks that need help and those of us who fear walking or riding through those camps. Thank you!!! You are our next governor!
There is a point at which political demagoguery needs to be recognized for what it is: a gathering of uninformed, reasonably well-off citizens' sympathy for their alleged plight in order to blame the victims of failed public measures with no positive proposals beyond the righteous-sounding "enforce the law harshly, and deterrence will achieve a good end." Since Mayor Pulliam places the blame for "Homelessness" on one political party's failure to eradicate the problem, I must point out that the other political party's response for the past decade (at least) is to oppose the first party's suggestions without offering any practical alternatives. This opposition must stop. Republicans must take responsibility even when they're the loyal opposition. Sure, oppose suggestions that are unlikely to work, but then propose other suggestions, positive ones.
Even if we locked up the criminals among the homeless, the roots of our problem would remain. Our society has used deterrence to lower the incidence of criminal behavior for centuries, and we've seen that deterrence does not work. We need to figure out what does.
If the phrase "mental health" means more than "get them off the streets," we have to realize that helping emotionally and psychologically suffering people is going to cost us. We need to renovate the whole social-support network: more social workers and well-educated mental health professionals, more education of police about how to recognize emotional distress, more publicly financed safe places for homeless people to live, and far less stigma and blame.
As for the need to keep adult(s) in the room, oh, yes! but "adult" is not synonymous with "parent." Assuming the role of one who has the right and duty to tell others what to do and not do insults them; it's a powerful stimulus for the others to resist, to resent, to disobey, to behave just as naughty children do.
People who want more law and more police as a solution to homelessness are guilty of ignoring the cost as much as social warriors do.
First we must come up with a law that will stand up constitutionality that allows us to legally impose mandatory substance abuse treatment. So far the the legal community has failed at that, no treatment facility can hold anyone against their will. They must be convicted of a felony and go into treatment in lieu of prison. They can still walk away once they get there.
Let's start adding up costs. Say we only have 1,500 homeless drug addicts and alcoholics in Portland. Under this policy that requires 1,500 investigations, arrests, bookings,incarcerations, preliminary hearings, trials, sentencings, and commitment.
How long, how much, how possible.
This is an outdated perspective on the homeless population, and wasn't even true forty years ago when the Reagan administration combined with well-meaning mental health professionals seeking to reform a broken system took the first steps toward the policies which now lead to our current homeless epidemic.
Mayor Pulliam, I used to teach in the Oregon Trail School District, up in Welches. We had a homeless problem up there. I saw the face of homelessness, and the element you are trying to portray as criminal is not as predominant as you claim it being. Does that element exist? Oh yes. But untreated mental illness and crime frequently go hand-in-hand. That needs to be acknowledged and dealt with.
Sounds good but probably will not work. There are to many liberal democrats in public office to effect any changes. Policy needs to be specific and enforceable. 1. No public camping in areas not approved. 2. Offenses carry mandatory punishment. 3. Habitual offenders deported to a 3rd world country. 4. Hold government officials accountable . This is just a start.
Sounds like a great plan to me. Obviously will need some adjust
Ing as time goes but at least its a plan which we dont have right now. My question has always been where the cities, counties, or state provides an area for these encampments s who is going to provide a periodic cleanup? Will it be a conditional free space provided they police themselves or will we have to provide a public work crew to handle it. I for sure would not want the job
This is a plot of a Star Trek DS9 episode. It didn't go well in fiction and won't if attempted in reality.
Excellent direction and ideas Stan. Thank you for offering a solution that works for both the folks that need help and those of us who fear walking or riding through those camps. Thank you!!! You are our next governor!
Love your message. Just a side note.. Oregon State Police, not Oregon State Patrol. Easy edit. Cant wait to vote!