MyFox
 

Chip's Blog

by Chip from Phillipston, Mass

Last Post 2 days, 18 hours Ago


Duh-val's Auspicious, Yet Naive Plan for the Homeless
Jan 21, 2008 | 5:30 PM
Category: News
Report This Post

I read this morning about Duh-val Patrick's auspicious new plan for housing the homeless in Massachusetts.  He touts it as the solution to homelessness in Massachusetts.  However, his plan is conceptually, theoretically and practically flawed...in fact, it is ultimately historically flawed.

For the aged amoungst us (like myself), you will remember another liberal Democratic Governor, Michael Dukakis.  In the '80's he decided to do away with similar problems.  With the Legislature's help, he passed sweeping increases in welfare benefits that made the poor's lives much better.

It also did something else.  It created a "welfare magnet" that attracted the poor from surrounding states. (Credit for the term "welfare magnet" goes to Gubernatorial hopeful John Silber, then president of BU.)  I remember it well.  We found many more cars with New York plates in poor neighborhoods.  Our welfare roles skyrocketed.  Our taxes were raised to pay for entitlement programs. 

And the poor stayed poor.

Now, we have another liberal Democratic Governor, Duh-val Patrick who, in all good faith I'm sure, want no one to be without a home.  His first mistake was not reading the history books.  His plan would increase the number of shelter beds to ensure that no one slept without a roof over their head.  He is coupling that with an augmented housing voucher system, to get those folks placed in homes.

Sound familiar?  Let's wait for 6 months after our tax dollars are invested in this program.  Wanna bet me how many folks will "migrate" here for housing and subsidies?  Naw, don't take that bet....

Ya see, here's the problem. This plan, like Mike Dukakis' plan, fails to understand that the only solution to poverty is to work harder.  This plan does nothing to stimulate initiative in the homeless population.  It sure does a boatload to encourage the homeless from surrounding states to migrate here.

I have a better idea, if you are going to use the "give them a fish" theory.  Why don't we pay for homeless shelters in surrounding states?  Won't we give housing vouchers to the homeless in surrounding states to find homes in their own states?

Or, even better, why don't we find a program that stimulates work ethic and requires initiative?  Doesn't that make more theoretical and historical sense?

15 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 15
Page 1 of 1
Xantun read my blog view my photos
Jan 21, 2008 | 11:11 PM

I've got the perfect solution, Chip. I say we give the homeless in Boston Deval's new drapes to wrap up in and let them sleep in his Caddy. Hell, the governor's mansion while we're at it...I hear Deval wants more floor space anyway.

(Yes, I'm being sarcastic. But I agree with you that this plan borders on, if it's not just over the line into, fiscal and economic suicide. And there isn't a casino plan that would fix the ruin.)
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jan 22, 2008 | 7:31 AM

It's not that I don't want to help the homeless. Actually I do. But I come from the "The Best Welfare Program is a Job" school of social welfare. The notion that you can GIVE someone self sufficiency is just dumbassed.

I guess it just goes back to the old line frm Christ: "Give a man a fish, and he eats today. Teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime."

It was prophetic back then, and it is rophetic now.
Xantun read my blog view my photos
Jan 22, 2008 | 7:47 PM

I definitely understand that you want to help the homeless, Chip, but I've known one too many people who are homeless by their own lack of trying to help themselves. In fact, I know one person who is homeless, but that's because they didn't go looking for another place to stay when they had to move out of a family member's home. Actually, this person was even given LEADS and numbers to call for rooming houses, to see about renting a room. But they did nothing, and wound up in a homeless shelter. And I know that if we follow Deval's plan, there are going to be imports from other states just like this person. And the sad part is that it will only fuel places like Framingham's attitude about social services. (Don't know if you've heard much about that out where you are, but I'll save details for another post.)
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jan 23, 2008 | 7:56 AM

They are anti-social services?
Valintyne read my blog view my photos
Jan 23, 2008 | 1:20 PM

Two thoughts came to mind when reading this excellent post:
One is of a book I read recently called "Random Family". Brilliant, heartbreaking book that chronicles the lives of several related poor people in the Bronx for a generation. There seems to be an entrenched "poor" mentality. It starts with young girls getting pregnant at 13 years old. The fathers (13 or 14 themselves) don't care enough to stay around or even provide diapers for the babies. These girls go on to have several different children by different boys. Then their daughters grow up to do the exact same thing, and their sons follow the example their own fathers set. ALL of these people rely on welfare to survive. How do we stop that?

The second thought was to question why, rather than making it the state's responsibility to house everyone, they can't allocate money to charities to do this work? Religious charities, particularly, have condititions that participants have to meet in order to stay in their programs. Sobriety, looking for work, attending counseling, etc. At least if non-profits were shouldering the burden of the homeless, there would be some oversight - not just a monthly check mailing. Maybe that all makes too much sense...

Great post, Chip, but Christ didn't say that about giving a man a fish. Nonetheless, a good adage.
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jan 23, 2008 | 1:25 PM

Who said it, Valintyne...? I thought it was one of the parables...
Xantun read my blog view my photos
Jan 23, 2008 | 7:31 PM

Chip, Framingham is so anti-social services that SMOC (Southern Middlesex Occupational Counseling, I think, might be wrong on a couple of letters) has filed a FEDERAL lawsuit against several of the selectmen and town residents.

Val, I've been wondering why it's the state's duty myself. And, I've come to the conclusion that it does make too much sense. Considering as we have a governor who just doesn't have a clue and hasn't paid attention to the relatively recent history of Massachusetts, I really don't expect much from him. Hopefully, whoever does his thinking for him sees the problem with this "plan".
Valintyne read my blog view my photos
Jan 24, 2008 | 9:35 AM

Chip, most people say it's anonymous, but it's been traced to Kwan-tzu, an ancient Chinese philosopher.

I remain mistress of the obscure and irrelevant. :-)
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jan 24, 2008 | 12:27 PM

LOL...I'm betting you are "mistress" only to the father of your boys!!!

Thaks for the heads up...I really always thought it had to do with Jesus and his penchant for fishing...
Xantun read my blog view my photos
Jan 25, 2008 | 10:55 AM

NOW I know why I like blogging with Val! :-P
Valintyne read my blog view my photos
Jan 25, 2008 | 12:30 PM

Haha! Fantastic! Right back at ya, Xantun! Someone has to marshal the minutiae - why not us?
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jan 25, 2008 | 12:59 PM

"Marshal the Minutiae".....the quote of the week!!!
Xantun read my blog view my photos
Jan 25, 2008 | 6:16 PM

Exactly, Val! Or, as I like to tell people, "I am a walking encyclopedia of useless info". Your phrase is catchier though.
Phenomenalady617 read my blog
Mar 9, 2008 | 12:24 AM

I wouldn't be surprised if you had a noose collection in your closet and a couple of tall trees in you backyard they way you dog Duval and Barack. You're a hater and your hate is goes way beyond politics. I feel so sorry for you.
Chip read my blog view my photos
Mar 10, 2008 | 2:12 PM

Lord have mercy....really? And just whom do I hate? I am a longtime fan of Colin Powell....a avid supporter of Condoleeza Rice...

Because I disagree with a certain type of politics (the politics of rhetoric, not accomplishment) and because two of thse people who hold those beliefs happen to be black, does not make me a racist. John Kerry holds them and if there is a politician I 'hate" it would be him. And his keester is lilu white.

Let me suggest THIS to you:

If you equate disagreement with hate, and then place them on people of color, IT IS YOU WHO IS THE RACIST.
Page 1 of 1


Write your comment below:




Chip

Just your average guy, married to a woman who is incredibly smart and possibly more conservative than I am. Father of three and grandfather of one. Devoted Patriots fan and season ticket holder, snowmobile enthusiast and lifelong public servant.

Member Since: 9/26/2006


 

View All Photos