Mayor Dave steals our money so he can harrass bums, hobos, and other transients!

[Hakan]

How is it arrogant that i'm proud of fighting through the adversity i've faced in life??

Maybe because you are rubbing it in the faces of people who need help?

[Calgary Flames]

Originally Posted by Hakan

Maybe because you are rubbing it in the faces of people who need help?

I don't rub it in.. Do you think I go up to bums and say Neener neener neener!! I'm stronger then you are!1 Ohhhh Snap! In yo face!

No.... I'm just proud of myself. How is that bad? When I needed help, I got it. When other family members needed help, I helped them. There's plenty of help available in this town... If you want it that is.

I'm done here, I know what i've been through and how I overcame my obstacles and what my family has overcome. But I will not assist homeless people unless My arrogant self truly believes someone wants my help and isn't going to **** away what i'm going to give them... unless it's a hot cup of coffee on a cold winter day.

[Rifleman]

I read through this thread and one thing struck me. Anyone who says someone who has a job and able to afford their own place are there just because they are lucky, is clearly pretty stupid.

It's pretty insulting to read that someone thinks someone else who has struggled their whole life to scrape by and now has a decent living got there by luck.

It's a discredit to them that they would even post that.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Calgary Flames

They are where they are because of THEMSELVES and nothing else.

I'm not going to ask what the reasons or circumstances were, but I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that your dad didn't just one day decide to move out of his house and live on the street.

You know, for a guy who had such a rough background you really are coming off as a elitist, holier-than-thou snob.

You grew up in a housing project, eh? Well while you were in that project a lot of people would drive by your home and say "How could anyone choose to live in there? Those people should get a better job and move into a new house. I'm sick of my money going to their welfare cheques, housing projects and crack dealers".

You probably resented that attitude, right? Well sir, now you are doing it.

[Calgary Flames]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I'm not going to ask what the reasons or circumstances were, but I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that your dad didn't just one day decide to move out of his house and live on the street.

You know, for a guy who had such a rough background you really are coming off as a elitist, holier-than-thou snob.

You grew up in a housing project, eh? Well while you were in that project a lot of people would drive by your home and say "How could anyone choose to live in there? Those people should get a better job and move into a new house. I'm sick of my money going to their welfare cheques, housing projects and crack dealers".

You probably resented that attitude, right? Well sir, now you are doing it.

I'm not going to divuldge any further to the personal matters of my family. Nice try though you dumb sack of ****.

The difference is, my family was working to get out of the gutter, not ask people for change on a daily basis.

Mr. Appologist

[jolinar of malkshor]

These people dont decide "Ya I want to live on the street for the next few years" but they do have the means to overcome there situation, WITH the help of MANY agencies provided by the CITY, PROVINCE, and Federal government.

Again if a young man with DOWN syndrome can wake up every morning and make it to wendies to wipe trays every day, then so can these bums.

[Calgary Flames]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

These people dont decide "Ya I want to live on the street for the next few years" but they do have the means to overcome there situation, WITH the help of MANY agencies provided by the CITY, PROVINCE, and Federal government.

Again if a young man with DOWN syndrome can wake up every morning and make it to wendies to wipe trays every day, then so can these bums.

EXACTLY!!! This city has plenty PLENTY of places for anyone to get help for ANYTHING.

[Antithesis]

I try not to think of people being "above" or "below" me based on their socioeconomic condition, but I have to admit that on some level I feel that homelessness is at very least a condition that can be worked on by the people who are homeless.

A person who is homeless and has no mental or physical health issues is, I believe, on some level choosing that condition; there are simply too many jobs available in the city right now for a person to not be working for any reason other than choice.

A person who is homeless and unable to work does have many avenues of help available to them (whether they are aware of them or not is a different matter). I'm not saying that they can get out of their situation simply by asking in the right place, but there are places to go.

I have a friend who used to be very charitable when it came to giving to the homeless. If they asked and he had change, he gave some. He worked at the Herb in Edmonton for a while and the experience changed him so much that he flat refuses to give money for anything to a homeless person --- even if he were to walk to Subway and buy the guy a sandwich. He told me at the time that there were plenty of places to get a night's sleep and a good meal. I don't know if its true as I have no specific experience in this manner.

When it comes to agencies like the United Way, I'll gladly give because I feel like its more worthwhile (and in the end rewarding) to give in that way.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Plus you get a tax receipt

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Rifleman

I read through this thread and one thing struck me. Anyone who says someone who has a job and able to afford their own place are there just because they are lucky, is clearly pretty stupid.

It's pretty insulting to read that someone thinks someone else who has struggled their whole life to scrape by and now has a decent living got there by luck.

It's a discredit to them that they would even post that.

If you are referring to me then that's not what I said.

Those of us that grew up in decent home and had the opportunity to have a good life are very lucky. That's the point I am making. Which was a reaction to the "holier than thou" attitude by displayed by some in this thread.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

These people dont decide "Ya I want to live on the street for the next few years" but they do have the means to overcome there situation, WITH the help of MANY agencies provided by the CITY, PROVINCE, and Federal government.

Again if a young man with DOWN syndrome can wake up every morning and make it to wendies to wipe trays every day, then so can these bums.

And many of them DO have jobs. Its not enough though to get off the streets.

You think 7 bucks an hour at Wendys is going to be good enough to get you off the street?

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Calgary Flames

EXACTLY!!! This city has plenty PLENTY of places for anyone to get help for ANYTHING.

Really? Then why do people still slip through the cracks.

OH that's right because they want to.

[CalgaryPride]

It should be noted that a large portion of the homeless population suffers from either a physical and/or mental disability. Do these mentally/physically-disabled people choose out of their own free will to live on the street? I think not.

Some of you people are quite selfish.

p.s.

As a downtown resident I take offense to people calling my community an anus or any other derogatory remark. Yes, people actually live downtown it's not just a place of work.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by Calgary Flames

I will admit that I do descriminate when I see homeless people... you're not getting diddly if you're fit and young or look intoxicated. I will help people out who are disabled physically, and the elderly homeless people. I don't buy mental disabilities either. There's plenty of help out there for mentally disabled people of all walks of life.[

You don't "buy" mental disabilities?

They're often more disabilitating than a physical illness.

And there is not plenty of help out there. Even if there was one of the major problems with the system is that we expect them to get help on their own.

Edit:
After reading through the rest of your posts I see that your idiotic opinion on this issue is not going to change.

Everyone goes through bad times at one point in their life. Get over yourself.

A "bum" is not the "scum of the earth". They just need help and many are not able to get it for themselves. People like you slow progress in this issue.

[jolinar of malkshor]

And many of them DO have jobs. Its not enough though to get off the streets.

You think 7 bucks an hour at Wendys is going to be good enough to get you off the street?Where talking about the bums who beg for money. NOT THE WORKING POOR. Get it straight.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Calgary Flames

I'm not going to divuldge any further to the personal matters of my family. Nice try though you dumb sack of ****.

The difference is, my family was working to get out of the gutter, not ask people for change on a daily basis.

Mr. Appologist

Laugh. Nice try at what? I just used the information that you voluntarily offered up to demonstrate a point that you are now trying to dodge by calling me names.

Do you think the snobs that looked at the poor folks when you were in the projects were saying "good for them, they are working to improve their lot in life" when they saw where you lived? They weren't. Trust me. They were making misinformed assumptions and stereotyping you as some pathetic poor kid who doesn't have a chance, and they believed they were better than you.

That's pretty terrible attitude for someone to have, don't you think? I do. I think it's disgusting.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Ok, you send your tax dollars over to them to support their unfortunate life. You pay for there health care bills when they end up in hospital with liver and kidney failure for sniff gas and smokin crack. I for one would rather send my grossly high taxes to support health (people that didnt ask for failed livers or kidneys), education (for people who want to get ahead in life), environment and other KEY areas.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

And many of them DO have jobs. Its not enough though to get off the streets.

You think 7 bucks an hour at Wendys is going to be good enough to get you off the street?

Where talking about the bums who beg for money. NOT THE WORKING POOR. Get it straight.

But what if the bums can make more begging for money than they can working at Wendy's. Isn't it in their best interests to do what provides them with the most income they can get?

BTW - I'm not defending those that use money gained from begging to by booze. But that's not all of them.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Fine, but if there making that much they better be paying income tax, unemployement insurance, canada pension, health premiums. The works.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

These people dont decide "Ya I want to live on the street for the next few years" but they do have the means to overcome there situation, WITH the help of MANY agencies provided by the CITY, PROVINCE, and Federal government.

Again if a young man with DOWN syndrome can wake up every morning and make it to wendies to wipe trays every day, then so can these bums.

Have you ever known someone with schizophrenia? Ever met someone with it who isn't taking their medication?

Many of these people have almost completely lost touch with reality and can't function in life. They need medication and mental health care services. They are so far gone that they don't know where to go for help and don't seek it.

Obviously there are varying degrees of Schizo, but some of the worst are living on the streets right now. You can't just expect these people to go to work every day.