[Shamu]

Are we seeing the same "homeless" people? The ones I see filling up the sidewalks and public spaces of big cities like LA and SF seem to be here for the cheap drugs, public services, and other nice things that "red states" are less likely to allow/provide.

Unfortunately, the "homeless issue" in big cities is a conflict of excess. High priced apartments (LA & SF used to have a decent amount of affordable living options when people didn't want to live in cities) clashing with "free"/public services.

We were fed a theory posed as fact (i.e. that providing services for drug addicts, like needle exchanges, and lowered/non-existent legal repercussions) is what is missing from our society. That is increasingly showing itself to be a lie.

The public needs to ask itself, do we want cities that are tolerant (and filled with drugs/crime), or do we want to accept intolerance?

I don't see the current political climate allowing intolerance, which is leading to a brewing political/civil schism.