by Thomas Emmon Pisano

Created on: July 02, 2009   Last Updated: July 04, 2009

America, Land of Abundance, and the Insane Homeless.

The Insane Homeless, dirty, odoriferous and often times belligerent to the point of actual violence, these unfortunate people are living solely on our urban streets, and as far as I can see from my meager association with them, without any visible means of support.

Mostly, I am speaking of the San Fernando Valley; it is a suburb of Los Angeles, California, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. It is also one of the largest populations of the Nations homeless. The reason I am writing this essay is to bring to light the number of insane homeless people we have in our fair city. One of our attractions to the homeless is the wonderful weather we have here in Southern California. The weather is the one great thing, which lures the homeless here from all over the United States, that, along with our basic generosity and tolerance here in Los Angeles.

Our city government tolerates them with an 'out of sight out of mind' policy towards these obvious mentally ill individuals. I am ashamed that my city government has taken this attitude towards the infirm, but they do. Moreover, if you ask the city why they are seemingly indifferent towards the homeless they will give you the stock answers. 'They have shelters they can go to' or 'we do our best, they are not breaking any laws' or my favorite; 'they can get help if they want it.'

If you have tried to talk to the average homeless person lately, it is near impossible to get their attention, let alone try to give them any information or help other than a handout of money. The homeless develop a mind-set; they get use to the squalor and will squat in or near businesses, causing patrons of restaurants and other such establishments to be afraid to go in or near these places of business. I would say that they cause businesses to loose revenue and inspire the public to despise them on an unconscious level, if not overtly. This is a real dilemma and it is costing us money and comfort.

This crisis is, from what I understand, a national epidemic, many good citizens are on the streets, mentally disturbed and most of us see them as a threat and a danger, but we try to put them out of our minds because we cannot be bothered. We as working class citizens are too busy to deal with this 'menace.' In addition, most homeless are content with their lot in life. They are treated like criminals or diseased animals and are ignored by the public. This situation

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