patrick.net

mell says

there are still plenty of very beautiful places in CA where everything is mostly intact. And the climate is among the best in the country if not the best.

Sounds like a great haven for the homeless while our government will take care of them. What’s not to like?

Eman says

Sounds like a great haven for the homeless while our government will take care of them. What’s not to like?

If I had $1k to my name and became an addict to some drug, CA is literally the only place I'd buy a one way ticket to in the lower 48. Not joking. As an outsider in the midwest this is literally a thing for people I've known or knew that fell on hard times. Hop on a Greyhound and go to CA. And it won't stop unless CA stops pandering to the homeless and will continue to get worse as you've mention the wealth gap.

Chicago has its fair share of homeless, but not remotely near what I've witnessed in CA. And we have "nice" homeless people for the most part if that makes sense. They tend to hide under the radar and not make huge tents cities like in LA. Though we have winter here, so staying out of the element lends to finding shelter which is harder to see the homelessness of the city.

I don't know what government can do about it. If you go cold turkey and cut off resources seems like crime would hockey stick. CA is in a touch spot with it. I don't think that ever changes.

FuckTheMainstreamMedia says

Is there a point at all to your question?

No point. Sometimes I've heard (not just on this blog) people complain about the schools without any first hand knowledge. My youngest kid finished grade 12 in 2013 so I've been out of it for a while.

WookieMan says

I don't know what government can do about it. If you go cold turkey and cut off resources seems like crime would hockey stick.

Without jobs that provide enough $$ to feed, cloth and house the average person it will not end. People have realize that we cannot sustain an economy where a smaller and smaller % of people have/make most of the $$.

Also, I'd bet most new wealth is being created by putting others out of work.

WineHorror1 says

Without jobs that provide enough $$ to feed, cloth and house the average person it will not end. People have realize that we cannot sustain an economy where a smaller and smaller % of people have/make most of the $$.

I get the sentiment, but I still believe that it's up to the person to make money. It's not the jobs available. There are plenty of jobs you can make $15-20/hr and get hired in a week with minimal skills. The problem is motivation because there are so many safety nets to catch you if you don't want to work. Once those are created they're hard to claw back. So there's an endless cycle of laziness.

I personally think we should just dump minimum wage laws altogether. Dump public sector unions. Private sector unions are a choice and don't hit my pocketbook, so whatever on that front. You work for what YOU are worth. A homeless guy might be able to get a $2/hr job, still be homeless, but learn a skill and eventually grow into making $15-20/hr or more. Socialize with non-homeless. The college or bust and you're a loser mentality is toxic.

WookieMan says

WineHorror1 says

Without jobs that provide enough $$ to feed, cloth and house the average person it will not end. People have realize that we cannot sustain an economy where a smaller and smaller % of people have/make most of the $$.

I get the sentiment, but I still believe that it's up to the person to make money. It's not the jobs available. There are plenty of jobs you can make $15-20/hr and get hired in a week with minimal skills. The problem is motivation because there are so many safety nets to catch you if you don't want to work. Once those are created they're hard to claw back. So there's an endless cycle of laziness.

I personally think we should just dump minimum wage laws altogether. Dump public sector unions. Private sector unions are a choice and don't hit my pocketbook, so whatever on that front. You work for what YOU are worth. A homeless guy might be able to get a $...

A lot of truth there. Here's a thought...we're a long way from past generations that could pick themselves up by their bootstraps. I'm no Libfuk but, my parents generation literally walked out of HS graduation, got jobs, started families and bought homes. That ain't being done today. Something has changed. Things like rules, regulations, monopolistic practices, government bailing out TBTF etc etc. My father's father, during the depression, literally started his own bakery inside his house. Sold his bread door to door. Let's see if anyone could do that today. No way Jose. I still say government and corporations cause most of these problems.

WineHorror1 says

Without jobs that provide enough $$ to feed, cloth and house the average person it will not end. People have realize that we cannot sustain an economy where a smaller and smaller % of people have/make most of the $$.

Also, I'd bet most new wealth is being created by putting others out of work.

Income disparity leads to socialism.. Extreme czarist inequality leads to communism.

WineHorror1 says

I'm no Libfuk but, my parents generation literally walked out of HS graduation, got jobs, started families and bought homes. That ain't being done today.

I don't think you are a libfuk at all. We've talked. I think younger people are lazy though today. I struggle with my own kids. It pisses me off. I don't want to be my dad though. Absent and physically/verbally abusive yet successful for the most part.

Most kids are spoiled though now. They are good friends now, but my neighbors had Juniors and Seniors in high school and they were visiting colleges they hadn't even applied for or been accepted to. Why? The game has changed from when I was a kid and I'm a young(ish) Patnetter. Kids just assume mom and dad will pay the way and make it happen now.

My wife and I were working when we were 14-15. I bagged groceries. In college I built signs that many here have probably seen. My wife waitressed and did other odd jobs. We're talking late 90's early 2000's, so not some folklore type shit from the 50's. If you want it, the jobs are there to make good money. We were pulling $30/hr between the two of us in our college years, which is great around 2001.

We bought our first property when we were 22 with no mommy and daddy help. My wife is the greatest thing that happened to me along with my dad's bullshit rough love. I was a country club kid that was forced to work because of him. I'm fortunate enough be able to take a break at this point. 3 years deep in being able to take a break from real full time work at 38. Not bragging, just if you're not working a job by 15-16, you're likely going to be a loser. By the time you 30 you've already got 15 years of experience of something under your belt. You're employable somewhere.

WookieMan says

I think younger people are lazy though today. I struggle with my own kids. It pisses me off.

A lot of this has to do with society as a whole imo. People don't heat with wood any more so no stacking and cutting wood as chores. Fewer kids grow up with yards to mow. HOAs provide "maintenance free" amenities. A kids biggest chore is taking out the trash, cleaning their room etc. Here's something you may not know either...foreign work programs. My HOA only hires foreign lifeguards for the summer. Years ago, I was in Myrtle Beach and ate at a friend's restaurant. She told me all of the wait staff there were foreign exchange. This is quite fucked up. I'm not pooh poohing. No matter a person's situation, you've got to overcome. But, let's be honest, shit is fucked up for some generations. They're being thrown under the bus. Hell, my own father gives my nephews "advice" about buying a large tract of land. The oldest is 21 and works at a damn kennel. There are opportunities though. A cousin and her husband stopped by a couple weeks ago. Her husband told my 18 year old nephew that if he went to community College and got an associates degree in automation technology(?) he could get a job immediately paying between $65k - $70k per year. Shockingly, he said he wasn't interested. He works at Walmart. Some people though, right?