Pubdate: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n166/a05.html Author: David Blount Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) A HARDER LINE ON HOMELESS Why should I, as a working member of society, care in today's booming job market about the fate of a collection of shiftless, predominantly childless, drug-addicted people who befoul the streets of what could be a beautiful city, launch court cases on the grounds that they are entitled to sleep in public parkland and to hassle and glare at the gainfully employed? I am disgusted with the modern approach to homelessness. Solutions? Rousting would be a start. Police could disturb their rest, seize stolen goods (shopping carts, especially) and make life unpleasant. Moving the homeless-support operations away from downtown would also be ideal: Streetlink ruins an otherwise pleasant street. Legalize any and all hard drugs and stop treating adult users as victims; it's their own fault. David Blount, Shawnigan Lake - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman