by Stephanie K

Created on: July 12, 2008

Mental illness is a pervasive, inexplicable and mysterious condition. It is difficult to assess the cause of mental illness. Environmental factors may be as powerful as genetic factors. Some fetuses are exposed to drugs and alcohol in the womb. Abuse and neglect can affect children in damaging ways.

Psychology cannot explain individual will and circumstance. There are people who were deemed at risk for coming from single parent homes where the father was absent. Sometimes the mother worked sixty hours a week. She might have used the welfare system. She might have dropped out of school. Her kids were supposed to become illiterate, homeless welfare recipients. Instead, they go to college, start their own businesses, get their own houses and adopt more conservative values. They thank their mothers for their hard work and sacrifices. They love her and bless her.

On the other hand, there is abuse and neglect in so-called ideal families where the mother stays at home. Political correctness censors any investigation into drug abuse, neglect, verbal abuse, psychological warfare and other unjust acts against children by mothers. The assumption, due to radical feminism, is that women are naturally good mothers since they can give birth. There is no connection between gender and parenting ability. In the sixties, millions of women ended unhappy marriages because of the parenting, nursing and housewife requirements. Not all women make good mothers. There are terrible fathers, as well, but there is little focus on the role of mothers in families and their influence.

In order to deal with homelessness, one must start at the beginning. This means starting with the family and environment surrounding the troubled child. It is much easier to deal with troubled youth than adults. A better approach to adults would be to offer them a way out if desired and not to waste precious time and resources on people who are not interested.

There are homeless people who drain the welfare system of resources for their drug use, street life and sexual exploitations while abused, battered women wait in shelters for decent housing. There is a double standard here. Society is quick to suggest throwing off a single mother who wishes to return to school and work on a part-time basis but will excuse a crack addict who gets herself on the street by blowing her welfare check on drugs instead of paying the rent.

Having worked many low-paying jobs after college, I am not convinced that work is not available

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