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by HDThoreaun 1119 days ago
Prison is a concept that has existed since the dawn of society. Maybe you disagree with criminalizing homelessness, that's certainly understandable and perhaps a bit illiberal, but it's certainly not unprecedented. And anyway, what I'm calling for is mandatory community service for the homeless, and then imprisonment/commitment/send them to kansas when they refuse to do it, not just criminalizing homelessness.

But if your question is if I believe in absolute freedoms, I absolutely do not. You are not free to harass people on the street. Not free to monopolize public parks. Certainly not free to be violent.
3 comments
Clubber 1119 days ago
Our constitution requires due process before you can force anyone to do anything. You also can't ban people from public land, because it is public. Imagine if the government created a massive park and only allowed rich people to use it. That's technically the same thing, except you are the rich people (relatively).

It's tricky.

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hotpotamus 1119 days ago
Seems like a bit of a burn on Kansas; some people live there voluntarily.

I wonder who it is you imagine will administer this involuntary servitude program? Does it particularly matter if the work is done to some standard or other? Do you imagine the state of California is competent to manage this system?

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HDThoreaun 1117 days ago
The state already runs community service programs. They can be expanded to handle the people living in the housing we built.

I'm not sure how giving someone a home and money for essentials is involuntary servitude. If these people don't want to do the service they can get a different job. I just realize that a lot of the homeless have what it takes to be successful, they just need structure and a little help.

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hotpotamus 1117 days ago
I suppose I missed your option 3 which basically seems to be our current status quo. But government run make-work programs just seem like a non-starter in the modern US.
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chasd00 1119 days ago
Homeless in the Midwest freeze to death in winter. Sending them to Kansas is sending them to the electric chair.
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HDThoreaun 1119 days ago
To live in the cheap apartments we built
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