The life story of the beggar who died last year is disturbing and confusing. His father was relatively wealthy, but his parents broke up and his father committed suicide when he was a young child. His mother and sister had seriously unstable personalities as well. He was raped (by another man) at the age of 13 and was kicked out of his home in his teens. I have already related his severe physical and mental health problems and the far from satisfactory efforts of the government to alleviate his situation. What I want to know is this: What is the underlying problem, and could it have been prevented by any government action?

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"I am a Tory Anarchist. I should like every one to go about doing just as he pleased- short of altering any of the things to which I have grown accustomed." (Max Beerbohm)

It doesn't matter what kind of welfare system there is in place, there will always be scenarios such as this one. Bad things happen. It's part of life. Some people have less bad, some have more. Sounds like this guy had a lot of bad luck. Could the government have done more to help him? Probably. Would it have done him any good? Maybe. We will never know now because he's dead, but I think no matter how perfect a welfare system we could create, there will always be folks, like this poor beggar, who simply fall through the cracks. Many people I think don't want help and wouldn't take it if offered.

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WARNING: In the unlikely event of an accidental agreement with any or all points made in the above post, contact a clinical psychologist immediately.

The views expressed in the above post are not necessarily those of Joker and/or any of his affiliates.

. "You have found the secret message. Do you have too much time on your hands? ...Let it go."

I've quite come to the same conclusion. There seems to be something wrong with society that the government can't fix. We have wealthy people lavishing spending on themselves while people like that beggar (and even worse off) barely survive and sometimes do not survive at all. It is hateful but there is nothing that the government can do about it without making the economy worse, which in turn creates more poverty. Either the rich have to start caring about the poor or our society will continue to reach the depths of Social Darwinism.

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"I am a Tory Anarchist. I should like every one to go about doing just as he pleased- short of altering any of the things to which I have grown accustomed." (Max Beerbohm)

was there ever a civilization in history that didn't have some sort of poverty?

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WARNING: In the unlikely event of an accidental agreement with any or all points made in the above post, contact a clinical psychologist immediately.

The views expressed in the above post are not necessarily those of Joker and/or any of his affiliates.

. "You have found the secret message. Do you have too much time on your hands? ...Let it go."

Quite true. It isn't the government's failure. It's our failure.
We have two competing philosophies it seems. Either get the government to do it so we don't have to or it's not our problem. I guess the former just disgusts me a little less than the latter. But the latter seems to summarize the prevailing attitude these days. It just makes it more stressful for those of us that do care.
I know we're on the same page on this issue: confused. We don't know what to do anymore.
I'd like to say that the way to do it is through shaping culture. The best way to do that is through art or example. But does that even work? Would showing the plights of the poor in all their ugliness get people to do something? Look at the hurricanes: only for a while... and in a very chaotic, nonthinking manner. The Salvation Army had to cut some of its programs this year around here because people gave all that they usually give to the SA to Katrina funds. And it seems we don't even know whether those funds were managed in any kind of a decent way. Some of the money that was lost in mismanagement could have gone to getting a homeless guy off the streets.
And besides, these days we have people that will rent movies that show actual footage of people dying horribly. Maybe they'll just learn to enjoy the suffering instead of feeling touched by it.

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That information is classified and to be given only on a need-to-know basis...

And I do not need to know.

By the way, JavaBlack, that was an excellent post. Addressing Joker, Jesus spoke of this problem in very clear terms:

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)

But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. (Luke 6:24)

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"I am a Tory Anarchist. I should like every one to go about doing just as he pleased- short of altering any of the things to which I have grown accustomed." (Max Beerbohm)

Well, I think it also comes down to the fact most people would like to help, but feel they don't have enough to offer thaty would actually make a difference. Take myself for example. I have a family to take care of with a modest income. I can't afford to donate any sizable amount of money to charity. Hell, I really can't afford tossing the beggars a few coins every time I see one. I don't donate because I don't think that meager amount of money I could spare would be beneficial in the long run and would only serve to take away money I need for what I have. That's one issue about charity.

Another is that the government is going about the problem all wrong, especially when dealing with the homeless. In fact, being homeless doesn't have to be the horrid squalor that it is here in the US. I say we help the homeless by going around the city and everytime you find a homeless guy give him a broom and a garbage can and tell, "Go to this address when this can is full and we will pay you forty bucks cash." You'll have happy healthy homeless and an immaculate city.

I take it you've seen Charle and the Chocolate Factory, too. Huh?? I just watched it last weekend and it made me wanna .

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WARNING: In the unlikely event of an accidental agreement with any or all points made in the above post, contact a clinical psychologist immediately.

The views expressed in the above post are not necessarily those of Joker and/or any of his affiliates.

. "You have found the secret message. Do you have too much time on your hands? ...Let it go."

We all do get caught up in bills. But it does seem pretty odd that a lot of us can't spare $10 for some economic development or poverty relief in a part of the Third World where people are starving to death or to help get a homeless guy off the street in this country while we're watching our TVs with cable on a couch in a large house...
And if all of us gave something like $10 a year, that would amount to a a few billion dollars anyway.

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That information is classified and to be given only on a need-to-know basis...

And I do not need to know.

What about my idea of giving the homeless some work to do during the day? It'll keep them active and healthy, and it'll insure that they have enough money everyday for food and drink and maybe a little left over for some pleasure. I've seen it done in tokyo and you never see homeless begging on the street, and they actually live in relative luxury (for homeless) with portable radios and even TVs. The city even allows them to set up shelters in the certain areas of the larger parks. It doesn't get them off the street, but it allows them to survive without relying on handouts from generous pedestrians.

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WARNING: In the unlikely event of an accidental agreement with any or all points made in the above post, contact a clinical psychologist immediately.

The views expressed in the above post are not necessarily those of Joker and/or any of his affiliates.

. "You have found the secret message. Do you have too much time on your hands? ...Let it go."

I was writing a long-winded reply before I realized I could keep it simple:

What Joker Said.

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Man up.