Guess which 'Liberal' state has 500 Laws Aimed at Oppressing the Homeless?

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/guess-which-liberal-state-has-500-laws-aimed-oppressing-homeless



Cities in the United States have a long history of criminalizing the public presence of people they consider undesirable. In the late 1800s, Southern cities established “sundown towns,” laws that restricted black people from being outside after sunset. Throughout the 19th century, cities ratified “ugly laws,” banning people who were diseased or deformed from being outside. During the Great Depression, California cities passed an “anti-Okie” law, making it illegal to assist poor people entering the state.

Today, society’s target is homeless people. Beginning in the 1980s when the federal government slashed the affordable housing budget, cities have enacted thousands of laws to criminalize basic human needs such as resting, sleeping, standing, and sitting, as well as acts like panhandling and food sharing.

That’s why the Western Regional Advocacy Project, a network of homeless advocacy groups on the West Coast, is pushing to pass the Right to Rest Act in Oregon, Colorado and California this year. The act, the first of its kind, would protect all residents’ right to rest, allowing people to occupy and use public spaces without fear of discrimination. The legislation was written based off interviews with more than 1,400 homeless people. It would also serve as a model legislation that could be enacted in every state across the nation.

[ND-Dem]

1. I'd rather see laws about people's right to jobs, income, homes -- not their right to be

homeless, broke and living on the sidewalk, sorry.

Is this really the best we can do for people, and call it a damn victory -- in bizarro-land? This is what liberalism has been reduced to? This so-called "model legislation" for our new future as resourceless slaves?

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?

[Tsiyu]

17. But at least the other is showing mercy

I have been reading a translation of the French book Bitter Feast about first contact between New World tribes and Europeans.

The Hurons made sure every member of the tribe was fed and cared for; you were regarded as wealthy when you gave more away. Hoarding was seen as a scourge, rather than a lifestyle to adopt.

Hurons were puzzled by the white race, who wouldn't even take care of their own.

As the book shows, the Hurons could be brutal, but their enemies were outside of the tribe. They were stunned that whites' enemies were one another. That they starved and tortured and beat their own.

The Europeans reported that Hurons had very, very peaceful towns, where everyone got along and there was no begging or homelessness. Europeans found it stunning that people could get along and that everyone was fed.

Guess which mindset won, to America's eternal detriment?

How can a nation survive when we create poverty by our policies, and then turn around and criminalize poverty!

[ND-Dem]

20. i don't consider it 'mercy'. no more than giving inmates the right to sit in the yard.

something other than mercy.

unless by mercy you mean the right not to be executed summarily for the crime of being poor.

[Tsiyu]

21. All I'm saying is that we should make it legal

to rest on public property no matter who you are. That one act won't solve problems, I know.

But it's better than arresting people for being poor in public.

Things are horrible for many, and things have to change.

On that we both agree.

[ND-Dem]

22. yes. i just hate to see stuff like this touted as though it were a humanitarian breakthrough.

to me it just demonstrates how far the country has fallen and how it continues to fall.

and what it means for neighborhoods like mine is more public decline instead of remedy.

[aspirant]

2. "The Right to Rest Act"

For all people to enjoy the people's property, I LOVE IT.

What a wonderful balancing act to the Puritan so-called ethic of hard work at any cost.

Until we can right this ship, Americans should be welcome in America.

[haikugal]

3. This land is your land

This land is my land

Google Woody and Arlo Guthery...I'd post but I'm IPad illiterate

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Woody wrote 'This Land Is Your Land' in 1940, Arlo was born in 1947. They did not co-write the song.

nt

[haikugal]

6. Yes, thank you for that...

However, I was indicating the you tube I wanted to post but was too illiterate to post...sorry if I confused you

[madokie]

10. But Arlo is the Proud son of his Awesome Dad

Pretty damn good in his own right too

[LWolf]

15. Yes.

Arlo visited my town about 8 or 9 years ago; he performed at a local high school as a fundraiser for a local public radio station. Even though I live in a pretty red area, the auditorium was packed with people who loved him, standing room only, and sang right along with him for this, and other old favorites. Out in the audience, we were laughing and crying and singing, and it was one of the best musical events I've ever attended.

[LWolf]

5. Here.

[haikugal]

7. You have my gratitude....

Now I want to post Linda Rhonstadt....my son has a class for me this afternoon... "

[LWolf]

8. :)

[madokie]

11. What a beautiful voice

its been silenced though and that is so sad

i often wonder what her relationship is with the gov now that they're both getting old. Like so many of us as we age our glow dims

[haikugal]

12. What a voice...

That song always makes me cry.

I bought her heart like a wheel album on ITunes...now I have to learn how to use my wireless speaker with the IPad for in the barn...stupid, I know. Thank you,

[haikugal]

9. Different vid than I wanted to post, but you got it!

Thankyou... I appreciate your effort, it still says what I wanted to say.

I wonder what people think when they hear this now...do they, like me, think about the native populations and how this was, is, their land? Just a thought. Anyway, what is happening in this country is criminal. We are all one people, there are no races, we are brothers and sisters.

[ND-Dem]

23. to post a video just click copy on its youtube url, then paste on the posting page here. done.

[reddread]

13. wow, thanks for posting, what a way to wake up that was

I know that picture pretty well, dont think I took it, but the banner-
looks like someone just winging it with a can of paint on a blue tarp.
not too bad, if I do say so myself.
Slogan was pretty obvious under the circumstances.
A self organized and ruled campsite had sprung along a canal bank in
a somewhat desolate spot near a freeway and behind a grainery after one
of the largest camps you have ever seen was torn down from around the
local official homeless resource providers, who DIDNT WANT THEM THERE.

Nearby gymnasium owner went all out to have the camp removed.
it is a long story i cant tell at the moment, but thanks for posting this.
we used the same or similar signs around town to suggest alternatives
to chasing the homeless away from safer situations into the shadows.

[reddread]

16. swift kick because

that is my photo

[reddread]

14. I hope everyone reads the article and appreciates the details within

the fact that Santa Cruz, with it's patina of free thinking and bohemian
history has been subsumed by self interested folks who were elected
under the impression that they were liberal.
one of the worst areas to be homeless, although the weather is the very best.
they dont want to share with the poor.
hell, if they have any sense, they dont even want to be there themselves.
the traffic congestion is a bug, not a feature.
town is a shell of what it used to be, filled with nasty ingredients.

[n2doc]

18. California has far more visible homeless

California may have more laws on the books, but there are far fewer visible homeless down here in Georgia. Climate? Benefits? I can't imagine Georgia does a wise job oppressing the homeless than does California.

[marmar]

19. K/R

[reddread]

24. two pronged kick

one for the photo I didnt have to post,
another for those who think liberalism cares for the poorest citizens in the United States.