Vancouver Sun editorial "We ought to be ashamed" December 19th
I agree with this editorialist's opinion that, while we are doing something, it isn't enough. I have long felt that our priorities are not correct when we have money to fund Olympics and the like, without addressing the more basic issues.
I know this isn't particularily a question, but it fits into a discussion here about socialism and such, but please feel free to comment if you like.
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2 comments:
It's horribly sad that the woman died in this way. But I'm not sure exactly how "we should be ashamed of ourselves" for her death. Where do we see the sin/guilt?
The woman accidently burnt herself to death in a shopping cart, trying to stay warm. Earlier in the night, police tried 3 times to help her get a place to stay but she refused and tried to warm herself outside.
The article seems to suggest that many people are to blame:
1. the people in the coffee shop who did not listen/believe the homeless man who called for help. But did they clearly understand what he was referring to?
2. the lack of good housing (perhaps this was why she refused the help of the police officers)
3. the lack of the government system discovering her mental disability (perhaps she had one) and helping her appropriately.
4. lack of funding from the federal government for the past 20 years (even though the provincial government does do funding).
5. not enough funding from the BC provincial government for good affordable housing for BC.
All this lack of government funding, when the government is happy to give lots of money to prepare for the Olympics.
I agree that the governments of the world spend too much money on the Olympics.
Unfortunately, I don't think this article helps me as much as if it were to give a more clear picture of how bad general living conditions are and how hard it is to find good housing in Vancouver.
The woman's death is sad and tragic, but it seems more of an accident.
I don't doubt something is wrong with the system, but its not clear what the problem exactly is.
The article does not give enough overall information about the system and problems of living at a general level to convince me about the government "spending more money" as the primary solution to this particular problem.
Regarding the deinstitutionalization of people with mental disabilites - the move was to fund community-living programs (like the ones I work for) instead. Agencies (like mine) replace "institutions". I don't think BC just sent people out into the streets with no support workers, although I wouldn't doubt that many on the streets ought to be cared for as "disabled" people. But that does not account for everyone on the streets.
I think the "we" in the title was refering to the country or province in general, not specifically the reader. He was using a phrase, and I don't think he was looking for direct sin or guilt. We all feel bad when something like this happens and I think that's what he was getting at. We shouldn't just ignore it. We should figure out what can be done.
I guess I added to this article the knowledge that I have of Vancouver. I'm not sure that you know this, but my family almost moved to Vancouver (Surry) but when my parents canidated there (HM- my dad was a pastor) they realized that the only housing they would be able to afford would be like what HM's father grew up in. Tiny, poorly heated, bug infested. So we didn't move. Josh's aunt and uncle live in Vancouver in a nice, but not outrageous house (not that I've seen it, but from what I've understood so I could be wrong) that they paid close to a million for.
Vancouver also recently passed a bilaw that makes it illigal for people to set up semi-permanent structures in parks. Their provincial court struck down the law but it was interpreted in such a way that the police still go in and break down the camps each morning. There are not enough shelter beds (which is why the court struck down the law).
Sorry, I didn't realize I was assuming all that information.
I am all for the deinstututionalizing that occured a few years ago. I think it is MUCH MUCH MUCH better to have people in home like settings and I really value the work that you do Chris. In Manitoba, I think that the coverage is at least close to adequate, although more could likely be done with getting people on the streets the help they need. Maybe with Silohm Mission adding a clinic, that will help. Anyways, BC doesn't seem to have a handle on the issue at all. A lot of it is probably because of the sheer amount- they get homeless people from all across Canada, but they also had a government up until a few years ago that cut health care funding a ton and likely other services as well.
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