Re: Trump's latest lunacy

On 3/23/2025 5:21 PM, Klaus Kragelund wrote:

More homeless people than I have seen before (I have been going each year for 15 years).

Homelessness is a persistent problem.  It's always amusing to see how
these "geniuses" never seem to take on REAL problems -- just simple
"technology" problems!  As if no one else would EVER have thought of
making an electric car or a portable phone.
Sadly, they are problems that easily tug on heart strings.  So,
can be exploited to encourage folks who want to help to subsidize
such efforts.  IME, the only ones who benefit, there, are the
ones leading those efforts ("Well, of COURSE I have to be paid
for my time -- look at how much time this is taking!!")
[We have a group, here, that claims to provide "support" for homeless
youth (high school age).  But, the support is limited to just handing
out cash that has been donated by others "trying to  help".  There's
no counseling.  No skills in budgeting.  Lifestyle mentoring.  etc.
Just take in donations, skim a bit off the top (15%?) and hand the
money over to "needy youth".  I'm sure the *30* NON-homeless people
who manage to gain employment doing this are happy for the effort, though!]

I hope it gets better soon and this is just a temporary situation.

All systems need periodic resets.  Even if only to force a "rethink".
We had a "citizen's initiative" to propose a "half cent" (per dollar
spent) increase in our city sales tax.  To be imposed for a period of
ten years.  To support our *zoo* (!!).
This passed.
Of course, the zoo is going crazy spending all this windfall.  No one
has considered what they will do when the tax expires... will the animals
suddenly not need to eat?  Will the newly constructed buildings not need
repairs?  Will the extra staff suddenly become redundant?
Recently, an attempt was made to impose yet another "half cent" sales
tax increase -- to pay for "public safety";  ambulances, fire equipment,
HOMELESS SHELTERS, etc.
Gee, folks decided this was too much!  "Find some other way to do those
things."
I guess no one thought of the cumulative effect of all these "half cents"
(there have been several) and prioritized them...