Yeah actually experts on the social determinants of health are recommending realistic solutions everywhere all the time. There is a huge gap between “realistic solutions” and “everyone feels always included, is never frustrated, never lacks anything and is basically on a pony farm with rainbows and unicorns”. That gap is actually where basically all good government policy resides.
Edit: Good policy never creates perfection. It’s an intentional conservative misdirection to claim policies are bad if they don’t work perfectly. I know you’re not conservative, but this attitude on policy is basically just like being an anti vaxxer about policy. One bad outcome doesn’t invalidate something that eliminates 100 bad outcomes.
It’s also getting attention because it’s one of the biggest lightening rods for right wing attacks. My dad sends me pictures all the time and is like this is what liberal policies do. They think the entire country will look like that soon it " liberals arent stopped by any means necessary "
I honestly don’t know what you are arguing for or against. No policy actions will eliminate drug abuse. No individual actions will eliminate drug abuse. You seem to be simultaneously demanding that I offer “realistic” solutions and also demanding that any solution is perfect. I don’t know what to say. The best thinkers that devote their lives to addictions think that tackling the social determinants of health is the most promising avenue of dealing with this social problem. If that runs against your instincts that what these people ACTUALLY need is just a slap in the face and some tough love, take it up with the experts. I think youre wrong but what do I know.
Building housing for these people so they have a place to be and live, and experience some stability and hygiene, and get back on their feet as human beings is pretty effective, but no one wants to put any such building anywhere.
the homeless problem needs a federal solution. dealing with them on municipal levels means it’s better for the mayor to put arrested drug addicts on a greyhound to SF or Portland or Seattle. they end up concentrated and overwhelming the liberal policies. you simply cannot solve this without a consistent treatment plan that works everywhere. eg federal money for housing and drug treatment in every locality.
and of course the police is constantly making their lives uncomfortable which is just a dumb waste of both public resources, and the limited resources the homeless themselves have. it doesn’t help anyone when the tent is trashed.
