Quote:
Originally Posted by Agent86
I watched it and that guy is a goof and there are many other non-complimentary words I would use to describe him as well. The fact that anyone would willingly go down to the East Side and shoot up Heroin and smoke crack, take clothing and donated gifts for the homeless, fake a mental illness and then at the end of it say that addiction is the cause of the problems is completely ignoring the circumstances that result in someone being homeless and finding the need to do drugs.
It looks easy for someone with a University education, or at least part of one to take advantage of social services for the most part... okay what about someone who has schizophrenia, isn't on medication, is addicted to heroin because it provides some relief and likely has a number of concurrent issues related to drug use and living in an unsanitary environment... to say that his problems are related to his drug use and a weakness (which is what I think he was saying in the video), is insulting and just plain stupid.
As for the original poster - yes there are services available and that people who are poor can have a relatively decent life, but I wouldn't say it is as comfortable as some people make it out to be. The real issue is the health care costs associated with poverty though and that is where long term savings can be seen.
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In his defence, I don't think this is really the point of what he was saying. He doesn't comment on why people start drugs. He just says that if you can remain sober and mentally with it, you have a much better chance of taking advantage of social programs.
This could be interpreted a number of ways. You could interpret it to mean that mindlessly throwing money at the problem is ineffective unless you address the issues of addiction/mental illness. Not a statement I disagree with.