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California WTF? A rant.

X Factor

X Factor

Anti-Socialist
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I spent the day in Los Angeles yesterday for a convention and, to be real, it wasn’t pretty at all. I had heard about human feces and trash in the streets but I thought that was exaggerated and hey, every city has their “bad” neighborhoods. Just in the drive to and from the venue, which was about an hour from LAX, I saw more than just some litter on the ground. I saw dozens of stuffed shopping carts blocking the sidewalks, people with giant bags of cans walking casually through traffic, drivers being hit up for spare change while waiting in line at a drive through, campsites and cardboard dwellings in virtually every open space along the freeway, tents pitched in the doorways of buildings and even streets lined with derelict, trashed out RVs (that **** would be towed away where I live).

No doubt, there are very nice areas of LA, much nicer than anything we have we live. I think, though, what I saw is an extreme example of what happens when you divorce people from any accountability for their lives and choices and, instead, place blame those who do work to take care of themselves. It actually isn’t selfish to take care of yourself so others don’t have to take care of you. Compassion is a great thing and we need social safety nets but compassion without some responsibility is just enabling and I don’t think anything I saw was beneficial to anyone.

/end rant
 
X Factor said:
I spent the day in Los Angeles yesterday for a convention and, to be real, it wasn’t pretty at all. I had heard about human feces and trash in the streets but I thought that was exaggerated and hey, every city has their “bad” neighborhoods. Just in the drive to and from the venue, which was about an hour from LAX, I saw more than just some litter on the ground. I saw dozens of stuffed shopping carts blocking the sidewalks, people with giant bags of cans walking casually through traffic, drivers being hit up for spare change while waiting in line at a drive through, campsites and cardboard dwellings in virtually every open space along the freeway, tents pitched in the doorways of buildings and even streets lined with derelict, trashed out RVs (that **** would be towed away where I live).

No doubt, there are very nice areas of LA, much nicer than anything we have we live. I think, though, what I saw is an extreme example of what happens when you divorce people from any accountability for their lives and choices and, instead, place blame those who do work to take care of themselves. It actually isn’t selfish to take care of yourself so others don’t have to take care of you. Compassion is a great thing and we need social safety nets but compassion without some responsibility is just enabling and I don’t think anything I saw was beneficial to anyone.

/end rant
Click to expand...

Liberal / Progressive / Leftist utopia.

As you stated, place blame (and additional expense) on those who do work to take care of themselves rather than those who refuse to take care of themselves, and worse, to enable those who refuse to take care of themselves to make matters worse on those that are paying for it all.

Liberal / Progressive / Leftist utopia, coming to a Liberal / Progressive / Leftist utopia controlled city near you soon.
 
I am surprised people still book conventions in California!
 
X Factor said:
I spent the day in Los Angeles yesterday for a convention and, to be real, it wasn’t pretty at all. I had heard about human feces and trash in the streets but I thought that was exaggerated and hey, every city has their “bad” neighborhoods. Just in the drive to and from the venue, which was about an hour from LAX, I saw more than just some litter on the ground. I saw dozens of stuffed shopping carts blocking the sidewalks, people with giant bags of cans walking casually through traffic, drivers being hit up for spare change while waiting in line at a drive through, campsites and cardboard dwellings in virtually every open space along the freeway, tents pitched in the doorways of buildings and even streets lined with derelict, trashed out RVs (that **** would be towed away where I live).

No doubt, there are very nice areas of LA, much nicer than anything we have we live. I think, though, what I saw is an extreme example of what happens when you divorce people from any accountability for their lives and choices and, instead, place blame those who do work to take care of themselves. It actually isn’t selfish to take care of yourself so others don’t have to take care of you. Compassion is a great thing and we need social safety nets but compassion without some responsibility is just enabling and I don’t think anything I saw was beneficial to anyone.

/end rant
Click to expand...

Like anywhere, it all depends where you are. I never have any issues in LA when I go there. All depends on your neighborhood, its still a great city there are many wonderful US and world cities that have the same issues, you just need a bigger view of all the good stuff, instead of focusing on the bad stuff.
 
beefheart said:
Like anywhere, it all depends where you are. I never have any issues in LA when I go there. All depends on your neighborhood, its still a great city there are many wonderful US and world cities that have the same issues, you just need a bigger view of all the good stuff, instead of focusing on the bad stuff.
Click to expand...

the point was to focus on the bad stuff because socialism.
 
X Factor said:
I spent the day in Los Angeles yesterday for a convention and, to be real, it wasn’t pretty at all. I had heard about human feces and trash in the streets but I thought that was exaggerated and hey, every city has their “bad” neighborhoods. Just in the drive to and from the venue, which was about an hour from LAX, I saw more than just some litter on the ground. I saw dozens of stuffed shopping carts blocking the sidewalks, people with giant bags of cans walking casually through traffic, drivers being hit up for spare change while waiting in line at a drive through, campsites and cardboard dwellings in virtually every open space along the freeway, tents pitched in the doorways of buildings and even streets lined with derelict, trashed out RVs (that **** would be towed away where I live).

No doubt, there are very nice areas of LA, much nicer than anything we have we live. I think, though, what I saw is an extreme example of what happens when you divorce people from any accountability for their lives and choices and, instead, place blame those who do work to take care of themselves. It actually isn’t selfish to take care of yourself so others don’t have to take care of you. Compassion is a great thing and we need social safety nets but compassion without some responsibility is just enabling and I don’t think anything I saw was beneficial to anyone.

/end rant
Click to expand...

:agree

LA has invested a lot of money for housing and services but the numbers of people living in the streets grows. It's now estimated that there are over 50,000 homeless in LA.
Public dollars don't seem to be helping to alleviate the problems.

Two years ago, L.A. voters overwhelmingly passed Measure HHH, a city bond to fund homeless housing. In 2017, they passed a county-wide sales tax increase called Measure H, to fund various homeless services. Despite all this new money flowing to a number of projects, tens of thousands of men and women still sleep on the streets. The situation has led to increasing impatience among some voters.
Click to expand...

Homelessness Strains Compassion For Some Los Angeles Residents : NPR
 
beefheart said:
Like anywhere, it all depends where you are. I never have any issues in LA when I go there. All depends on your neighborhood, its still a great city there are many wonderful US and world cities that have the same issues, you just need a bigger view of all the good stuff, instead of focusing on the bad stuff.
Click to expand...

That's so easy for people who don't live around this squalor to say...
Have you no empathy for people whose neighborhoods are being taken over by people living in their streets, parks?
 
X Factor said:
I spent the day in Los Angeles yesterday for a convention and, to be real, it wasn’t pretty at all. I had heard about human feces and trash in the streets but I thought that was exaggerated and hey, every city has their “bad” neighborhoods. Just in the drive to and from the venue, which was about an hour from LAX, I saw more than just some litter on the ground. I saw dozens of stuffed shopping carts blocking the sidewalks, people with giant bags of cans walking casually through traffic, drivers being hit up for spare change while waiting in line at a drive through, campsites and cardboard dwellings in virtually every open space along the freeway, tents pitched in the doorways of buildings and even streets lined with derelict, trashed out RVs (that **** would be towed away where I live).

No doubt, there are very nice areas of LA, much nicer than anything we have we live. I think, though, what I saw is an extreme example of what happens when you divorce people from any accountability for their lives and choices and, instead, place blame those who do work to take care of themselves. It actually isn’t selfish to take care of yourself so others don’t have to take care of you. Compassion is a great thing and we need social safety nets but compassion without some responsibility is just enabling and I don’t think anything I saw was beneficial to anyone.

/end rant
Click to expand...

But if they are living on the streets isn't that them being held accountable?
 
The sooner the better. He didn't create the situation but he owns it as mayor of LA.

 
X Factor said:
I spent the day in Los Angeles yesterday for a convention and, to be real, it wasn’t pretty at all. I had heard about human feces and trash in the streets but I thought that was exaggerated and hey, every city has their “bad” neighborhoods. Just in the drive to and from the venue, which was about an hour from LAX, I saw more than just some litter on the ground. I saw dozens of stuffed shopping carts blocking the sidewalks, people with giant bags of cans walking casually through traffic, drivers being hit up for spare change while waiting in line at a drive through, campsites and cardboard dwellings in virtually every open space along the freeway, tents pitched in the doorways of buildings and even streets lined with derelict, trashed out RVs (that **** would be towed away where I live).

No doubt, there are very nice areas of LA, much nicer than anything we have we live. I think, though, what I saw is an extreme example of what happens when you divorce people from any accountability for their lives and choices and, instead, place blame those who do work to take care of themselves. It actually isn’t selfish to take care of yourself so others don’t have to take care of you. Compassion is a great thing and we need social safety nets but compassion without some responsibility is just enabling and I don’t think anything I saw was beneficial to anyone.

/end rant
Click to expand...

Casper said:
But if they are living on the streets isn't that them being held accountable?
Click to expand...

Perhaps he wants them locked in workhouses.
 
eohrnberger said:
Liberal / Progressive / Leftist utopia.

As you stated, place blame (and additional expense) on those who do work to take care of themselves rather than those who refuse to take care of themselves, and worse, to enable those who refuse to take care of themselves to make matters worse on those that are paying for it all.

Liberal / Progressive / Leftist utopia, coming to a Liberal / Progressive / Leftist utopia controlled city near you soon.
Click to expand...

Shouldn’t the poor and homeless be actually better off in a city run by more liberal leaders?
 
beefheart said:
Like anywhere, it all depends where you are. I never have any issues in LA when I go there. All depends on your neighborhood, its still a great city there are many wonderful US and world cities that have the same issues, you just need a bigger view of all the good stuff, instead of focusing on the bad stuff.
Click to expand...

Yeah every city has issues, but liberal west coast American cities are off the charts.

Try visiting Santiago de Chile, you won’t see any derelict RVs, homelessness is uncommon, no litter, strong police presence who will arrest people who violate public order. And the population is similar to LA, similar climate, Mexico City looks better then LA as of 2019, I’ve been there too. So cities in other parts of world seem to know that you can’t tolerate these drug encampments
 
EMNofSeattle said:
Yeah every city has issues, but liberal west coast American cities are off the charts.

Try visiting Santiago de Chile, you won’t see any derelict RVs, homelessness is uncommon, no litter, strong police presence who will arrest people who violate public order. And the population is similar to LA, similar climate, Mexico City looks better then LA as of 2019, I’ve been there too. So cities in other parts of world seem to know that you can’t tolerate these drug encampments
Click to expand...

I've been to Santiago, its a nice place, I've been to Mexico City, so what?
 
beefheart said:
I've been to Santiago, its a nice place, I've been to Mexico City, so what?
Click to expand...

Why in poorer countries are there fewer and less violently aggressive homeless people?
 
eohrnberger said:
Typhoid Fever, Typhus & Tuberculosis: Are L.A.'s Medieval Diseases Coming To Your City? - Forbes
Click to expand...

Too many steps to wrong direction?

Poorest and richest in same city? L.A. is "nice" example of extreme inequality, but it's ok - I guess. Has to be ok, because it's getting worse. More shelters for homeless? Hide them under rocks? Sucks to be poor in US - being poor should be illegal!!! One way is build new for profit prisons and jail all homeless - clean the streets!!! Maybe MAGA 2.0 will solve this issue - so you have to re-elect Trump \o/
 
beefheart said:
Like anywhere, it all depends where you are. I never have any issues in LA when I go there. All depends on your neighborhood, its still a great city there are many wonderful US and world cities that have the same issues, you just need a bigger view of all the good stuff, instead of focusing on the bad stuff.
Click to expand...

I don’t mean to sound judgmental. I legit thought it was sad. I have no doubt LA has a lot more to offer than what I saw. Where I live is far from rich, and we do have homeless people, of course, but no way would people be allowed to set up residence anywhere they wanted.
 
Helix said:
the point was to focus on the bad stuff because socialism.
Click to expand...

The point was to focus on what I saw. I promise, I did not seek it out.
 
Mr Person said:
Perhaps he wants them locked in workhouses.
Click to expand...


EMNofSeattle said:
Yeah every city has issues, but liberal west coast American cities are off the charts.

Try visiting Santiago de Chile, you won’t see any derelict RVs, homelessness is uncommon, no litter, strong police presence who will arrest people who violate public order. And the population is similar to LA, similar climate, Mexico City looks better then LA as of 2019, I’ve been there too. So cities in other parts of world seem to know that you can’t tolerate these drug encampments
Click to expand...


Helix said:
the point was to focus on the bad stuff because socialism.
Click to expand...

I would take Havana over LA any day of the week. Socialism doesn't in and of itself make a place bad to visit. California could make such problems go away without abandoning its commitment to socialism by placing able bodied idle people in social justice work camps.
 
Last edited:
eohrnberger said:
Liberal / Progressive / Leftist utopia.

As you stated, place blame (and additional expense) on those who do work to take care of themselves rather than those who refuse to take care of themselves, and worse, to enable those who refuse to take care of themselves to make matters worse on those that are paying for it all.

Liberal / Progressive / Leftist utopia, coming to a Liberal / Progressive / Leftist utopia controlled city near you soon.
Click to expand...

All the best places in the world to live are liberal/progressive/leftist utopias.
 
Grand Mal said:
All the best places in the world to live are liberal/progressive/leftist utopias.
Click to expand...

Sure, if you're a retiree or have outside money coming in. Living somewhere and earning a living there are two entirely different things. Cienfuegos would be a great place to retire, but the average citizen lives like crap.
 
trixare4kids said:
That's so easy for people who don't live around this squalor to say...
Have you no empathy for people whose neighborhoods are being taken over by people living in their streets, parks?
Click to expand...

Yeah. I know a lot of taxes are collected in California. Seems reasonable to expect the streets not be taken over by squatters in rotting tents and RVs.
 
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