Tax Dollars at Work

[morphball]

[ QUOTE ]
#2 You do realize that under the system without these centers, it was a BIGGER waste of taxpayer money, right?



[/ QUOTE ]

Only because you assume society is obligated to pay these peoples' other costs. Also, how do you address the fact that by giving free admission to these centers you are increasing the demand? (Simple econ right as P decreases D increases.) I'll say it again, any benefit will be short lived because these centers will fill up as more and more people who barely function will have no incentive to keep hanging on.

They did a semi-commi expirament in colonial America. Everyone in the camp was going to pitch in for everyone else. Well, enough people decided to accept the dole (i.e., freeload) that almost everyone starved.

[ QUOTE ]
#1 Note your use of the phrase "relative luxury." Relative to what? Relative to how the average American lives? Relative to how they had been living before? If you mean the latter, which I think you do, a waterproof box is "relative luxury," so I think that whole statement is just bogus.

[/ QUOTE ]

If someone cannot afford any type of shelter because they drink their lives away, then these centers which have heat, clean bedding and food are luxurious. Just because it's not as nice as your house doesn't change the fact that it's nicer than they deserve.