Is our compassion killing us?

Imagine that  your uncle came to visit and announced that he was out of a job and a place to live.  He asked for your help for a short amount of time.  Of course you said YES and offered him your guest bedroom.  A few days later his wife and three minor children came - and they too moved in with you and your family.  A week or so later his parents and his wife's parents and their other adult siblings came to live with you too.  None of them worked.  None of them contributed to the household and you were now going broke, not able to take proper care of your own immediate family.

Compassion is a great thing.  It would be wonderful if more people had it.  BUT isn't your responsibility primarily to your own family?  Isn't there a time when you have to kick out all these freeloaders?  It's hard.  Some of them are children.  Some might be disabled.  Yes, it would be incredible if you could take care of them all - and all the others that will follow.

Isn't that what is happening here in California - and elsewhere in the country?

Isn't it true that the more we help people the less they do for themselves?  Isn't it true that the more word gets out about our generosity the more people will and do land on our doorsteps?

How do we change it?  How do we help those really needing our help without encouraging those who probably could work to live "off the dole" as they say in Great Britain. 

How do we stop the influx of those wanting our largess without being cruel?

That is the problem we currently face.

Helping the Homeless

Today's paper (here in Santa Clara County) showed pictures of dismantling the homeless encampment.  It is horrifying and so sad.

I don't want to see homeless encampments - they are unsafe, potentially dirty and disease ridden.
Nor do I want to see us not serving our homeless.

years ago when they were dismantling Moffett Field I suggested that they use the existing military housing for homeless - they could house, train, offer medical, etc. at almost no cost.  The answer:  It was too far away from downtown (20 minutes at most).  What happened to buses?

at another time I suggested that they build a floor of the new garage (across from our county building and the police station) as a place for homeless - beds, showers, food, etc.  That didn't fly either.

So what are we to do?  Pretend they don't exist?  Pretend they don't need our help?