Thanks for your reply. I've asked this question to learn a bit more about the workings of your current government. So, you have nothing positive at all to say about it?
Yup. The government hired janitors really do a great job keeping the White House and other government buildings clean. Plus, I’m sure they use those $300 hammers and really keep those $500 toilet seats nice and looking brand new.
"One homeless man who was interviewed said he receives a state check for $620 a month and over $200 in food stamps per month. Now, do tell me, if that same man were to be “cut off” do you not think he might straighten up and find a job?" Not necessarily. As you said, many homeless people have mental health issues and/or are addicts which prevents them from being hired. Or they could have a physical disability that prevents them from working. We can't assume that they are capable of working. It's too simplistic to say they should just straighten up and get a job. It's not that easy, especially in areas where there are few resources. We can't paint all homeless with the same broad brush and expect them to suddenly become productive members of society.
It can work well at the local level when it comes to issues that people are aware of and knowledgeable about. At the state level, government works better than at the federal level, but that depends on the size of the state, mostly. The further away that government gets from the people who are governed, the less effective it is at meeting the needs of the governed. This is why the US governmental system was designed to have a weak domestic federal government, sovereign states, and individual rights. That has been turned on its head.
I guess I forgot to tell you that my non-secular vocation happens to be in the Rescue Mission Ministry and have dealt with the plight of homeless people for 23+ years. Also, since I deliberately put myself on the streets of Atlanta, Ga for a solid year as a homeless person, there really isn’t too much you or anyone else can tell me about those on the streets. It is true however, that alcohol and drugs play a roll keeping homeless people homeless and then there are the “one paycheck away” folks who wind up homeless for no fault of their own. There are also Combat Vets who see no other future than that of a life with PTSD and then there are those who actually LIKE the freedom of no responsibility. There are tons of reasons (I have heard all of them) why the homeless numbers are so high but Government led programs have never worked to relieve those numbers: they get worse. Edit: Maybe the Government does help with the homeless problem with the nearly open border policy. Since Fentanyl is killing so many people and the drugs come freely across the border due to our own government policies, yeah, killing off homeless druggies might just help out.
That's really a shame. It must be frustrating to have that much dissatisfaction for your country's leaders. But, I'll throw this out there: It's been my experience from observing politics in our country over the years that no matter which party leads the government, no one is fully satisfied with any leader or party, even if they've voted for them. When I think of our country's history, there is only a handful of Prime Ministers...both Liberal and Conservative who were respected for being "good leaders" by the majority of people. Not sure if it's the same in the U.S. Are there any Presidents in your recent history who were considered good, effective leaders?
Good for you, for working with the homeless. I think we can agree that it is a very complex issue and there are no easy answers. We have a homeless problem in my city, too, with outdoor encampments springing up in public parks and abandoned parking lots. It's so very sad and also dangerous...these people are living in tents during our harsh Canadian winters. Our city is finally taking action by building safe shelters on vacant properties. These consist of tiny huts with electricity and access to water/washroom facilities. I have no problem with some of my tax dollars being allocated to this initiative. I think some people forget that the homeless are human beings, too, and deserve to have their basic human needs met.
The absolute best thing about our government is our Constitution. Sadly there are those that feel the need to ignore it. The bigger our government gets, the more convoluted. And once a law is made or a post is created, it is seldom removed. The Judicial Branch of the Government may have the final say although the Executive Branch, the President, is supposed to execute the laws. Biden is definitely not doing that. We all love this country; warts and all.
Actually, the Legislative Branch is supposed to have the final say in most things. The Supreme Court was set up to supposedly protect the rights of the citizens and determine what is Constitutional when there is a conflict between the other two branches or between the states and the Federal Government. The power of the court has grown in recent decades, but when there was a conflict between (I think) 24 states and the remainder over a recent election, the Court refused to hear it. They reach into places they shouldn't but don't fulfill one of their enumerated powers and responsibilities: The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two or more States;--between a State and Citizens of another State;--between Citizens of different States;--between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.
It certainly doesn't seem like you love your country. It seems like Americans like you, and the others commenting here, have many, many issues with not only how it's run but they're greatly bothered by the population of liberals making your lives miserable. Just an observation.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the majority of Supreme Court justices Republican? If they have the final say in most things, then Republicans have the power, don't they? If so, how can Americans blame Democrats for the government's failings?
The Supreme Court can put a stop to political machinations but they don't generally drive them. Plus, the party affiliation of a Supreme Court Justice doesn't necessarily dictate their actions once on the bench. Some of those who were nominated by Republicans have voted with the liberal justices, although it's less likely to go the other way.
Interesting. From what I'm hearing from everyone's comments here, the U.S. government is so multi-tiered and there's so much opposition between parties and various authorities that it's often difficult to push through any type of major change or laws. It seems to be a cumbersome system. Am I correct on that?
I feel like I wouldn’t be wrong to interject that it isn’t about love of country, it’s about the dislike of what the government has done to the country. Liberalism like the Woke movement had a great foundation but many people who proclaim those designations have warped the original intentions into something that is totally unrecognizable by anyone much less those who are truly liberal or woke.