America Gone Wrong: A Slashed Safety Net Turns Libraries into Homeless Shelters »
Posted By gatitabonitasen 1 year, 6 months ago in NewsA dirty little secret about America is that public libraries have become de facto daytime shelters for the nation's street people while librarians are increasingly our unofficial social workers for the homeless and mentally disturbedOphelia sits by the fireplace and mumbles softly, smiling and gesturing at no one in particular. She gazes out the la
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texangelwings1 year, 6 months ago
Some seniors would rather stay at home.
"what's it to you?"...to me it is the point that Seniors, homeless, children or any human being should not have to go to a store for the day to keep cool, or to cut their expenses at home or to just have shelter for a few hours.
This should not be happening in America in the 21st century.
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JohnQPublicComment removed: User banned.2 Replies
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SusanParrishComment removed: User banned.
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questionseverything1 year, 6 months ago
except iraq didnt attack us so the defense arguement doesnt work
and providing security for oil companies isnt provided for in the constitution either
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keinkampf1 year, 6 months ago
What this author says is, unfortunately, correct. It would be much less expensive, fiscally and in numerous other ways, to simply provide the needed services for the homeless than it is to pretend they don't exist (or don't matter). But if we actually tried to provide for them, we wouldn't be able to insist that they are solely individually RESPONSIBLE for their own lives (like everyone is "supposed" to be). So we will undoubtedly continue on in our denial and continue to keep the expensive (but usually invisible) revolving doors turning.
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JamalWindfall1 year, 6 months ago
Great story - I LOVE how they put the picture of the a guy with a big shaggy beard. As if a beard means anything whatsoever! Ah, good PSYOPS always get my writing wheel 'a churnin.
For me this story rings true. I live in a big city and the main public library is a rest haven for homeless, just as the article contends. The problem is, its not just specifically for the homeless - they represent soft spots in society. Homeless people usually end up whereever the rest of society leaves them alone - the places noone cares about. Bus stops or out in the woods. So the fact that nationwide libraries are becoming defacto homeless shelters...what does that say about the American attitude toward knowledge and learning? Of course Americans have been on a steady educational decline since the 1950's as pointed out by Sayed Koteb and Leo Strauss...but look more specifically at our national climate - we are in big trouble because we forgot how to read.
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ningyo1 year, 6 months ago
we all make choices in life--these people have by and large chosen to live outside of the boundaries of society--in my far ago youth they were called bums and derelicts--from what i see today that is still pretty much true--they shouldnt be victimized..but when they take over public areas like parks..libraries..main roads..so that the rest of society cant use them--they should by moved out--i go to so cal a lot and its a big problem there--they sleep wherever--use the streets and parks for bathrooms..break into cars--its a public health issue as much as anything--you get fined if you dont clean up after your dog..this is 100 times worse--we used to have a really good social program for this..it was called soap and work--this isnt what these people want for whatever reason--ive heard all the arguments and im sure i will be roundly scolded here on libscape for my insensitivity--but ive been through the mill a couple times myself--i made choices and went one way--these folks went another
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BhaktaRajPrabhu1 year, 6 months ago
I understand what you're saying, Ningyo, but one thing you may not know is that many of these homeless people are NOT derelicts and bums: I'm from New York City, and during the 1980's and "Reganism", many people with severe mental problems were removed from institutional care (such as Wards Island), bussed into the city, and then let go to fend for themselves.
That's because Ronald Regan was busy diverting funds to his "Star Wars" programs (among other of Regan's follies), and the elderly and the mentally ill suffered as a result.
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crespi1 year, 6 months ago
My friend is a librarian and legally they can't kick them out for being there, unless they REALLY smell.
It's a problem. Sometimes they urinate in the stacks (even though there's a bathroom), hang out in the CHILDREN'S section generally creeping people out and can finally be tossed when using library computers for porn (public masturbation, yichh.)
Of course many aren't just homeless, but NUTS.
Thank you Reagan, for shutting down the "sanitariums" and dumping all these folks on our door steps.
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WCFIELDS1 year, 6 months ago
"...their often disheveled and odorous presentation..."
I can see a young person wanting to use a library turning away from this side-show.
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lovelytxwoman1 year, 6 months ago
I wonder about how these same people got along say a hundred years ago? When did government become fix all and end all to everything in society! Why is it not our personal responsibility to take of our city, town, or family member?! You know what I think we took care of our own problems and not say I do not care about it,let the government fix that!
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