Process
Status Items Output None Questions None Claims None Highlights Done See section below
Highlights
id588639100
Their objection to these solutions is not practice but moral; they think it is not fair that they, the prosperous, should have to subsidize those they view as indolent and irresponsible. They think those who live on the streets are getting their just deserts. Watters has no actual explanation of how stigmatization is going to solve the problem. But even though he says he wants to “fix” it, I don’t think he really does. I think he just wants to find some way to avoid having to feel bad about it, to live happily with his wealth without having to contemplate the lives of people who suffer.
✏️ It does feel worth examining why people feel the need to judge, stigmatize, punish, criminalize, etc. those that are sick, addicted, homeless, and (in the minds of the right), “failed at life”. They feel that, somehow, the homeless person CHOSE to be homeless (and not consider the systemic/capitalist forces that likely put them there). When you tell them that the solution to homelessness is providing unconditional housing, they balk at it. Is it because they don’t think the person deserves free housing? Are they jealous that the person is getting for free what they have to pay for? Is it against their internal moral coding around fairness somehow? There’s also a lot of mixed stigma around drug users. We’re conditioned to look at drug users as failures, criminals, and people who made a choice that they now have to live with and must be punished for. There’s no room for humanity, forgiveness, empathy, or even the possibility of considering the systemic forces in play. I think it’s hard for someone to say “That drug user.. it’s not their fault they used drugs. They’re a victim.” We want to say “They chose that and they have to suffer because of that bad choice.” The free ride argument around things. #followup 🔗 View Highlight
id588639546
“you and your four children will sleep in a tent because we judge your moral choices.”
✏️ It’s basically morals, isn’t it? You have different morals than us, so we judge that, and are okay with you suffering. 🔗 View Highlight