Downtown LA

[_Markk]

Human greed is just a problem, and it is a problem that exists within and without capitalism. Human greed is also the problem with countless other economic systems. It is not the economic system that creates human greed nor is it the system that destroys human greed. I do not see how more/less regulation can be argued as being a cure for human greed.

Well said... kinda, I may be splitting hairs, but it is more than a problem, it is just a reality...it is a factor that cannot, nor will not, disappear. In any system there will be the have, and the have nots.

In a Darwinian view I suppose it is survival of the fittest, or basic human nature, in a Christian view it is our sin nature of "self" first. Whether you believe in Christ or not, treating others as yourself would go a long way in all our views.

Doc made some great points and stated some truths that make one think, but what you wrote above trumps much of that in that every system falls short in the end.

My parents, my siblings, and myself...and I bet most contributing members here have had a pretty good run is our capitalist system...liberals, and conservatives alike.

[_The CCC]

Markk:

Of course skin color is a factor, as well as class, class mobility, education, and job opportunities. It is a far too complex a problem to be summed up with a few photographs of poor minority people in cities. Sociologists have been studying it for generations now, and what we do know is that they are all interrelated, and interconnected.

[_Jersey Girl]

Hey Markkkkkkk,

I watched all of your videos the night you posted them and sat here in shock at the enormity of the homeless population in the area. Where I live we do have a homeless population but not to that degree, likely because the city here is small in comparison.

You asked EA what the homeless in his area do in winter. Same thing here. We have homeless shelters, sometimes the city opens up more types of sheltering, the folks hunker down and ride it out, and sometimes (rarely) they do die in our hard winters.

I live in an outlying area so I rarely go downtown. I do know that there are hotels (not many) that have been shuttered and those could be made into shelters. I doubt anyone wants to dump money into a homeless shelter.

I do know that some folks are homeless due to circumstances and others have chosen homelessness as a lifestyle. So while I have compassion towards the homeless, that compassion is peppered with skepticism as well. I DO think I am my brother's keeper but what if my brother honestly doesn't give a damn?

I've also become indifferent to folks panhandling outside of restaurants, stores and gas stations. I've been "hit up" more than once at a gas station right off the interstate here. Both times the same ploy and I do think it's a ploy. I don't know a way to distinguish between someone panhandling who is truly in need and who is using panhandling as their main source of income because they want to live a life of freedom and roam.

And for the life of me, I don't know why if they are outside of a Walmart or a restaurant, and are truly hungry, why they don't go inside and speak to a manager to get help and barter a bit of work for a meal.

I guess I don't understand where people are coming from and I am sure that their stories are varied as to why they are living the way they are. It's not like you can't get a job around here. I started working when I lied about my age at 17 to get a job, so no, I don't understand. Even in winter you could buy a snow shovel and go for it outside of a local business in exchange for food.

Excuse the rambling in this post...or not.

[_The CCC]

Tell me I'm worthless.
SEE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiaxHUFAWew

[_The CCC]

Markk:

Darwin would have been aghast at Social Spencerism
SEE https://philosophynow.org/issues/71/Social_Spencerism

[_Markk]

Hey Markkkkkkk,

I watched all of your videos the night you posted them and sat here in shock at the enormity of the homeless population in the area. Where I live we do have a homeless population but not to that degree, likely because the city here is small in comparison.

You asked EA what the homeless in his area do in winter. Same thing here. We have homeless shelters, sometimes the city opens up more types of sheltering, the folks hunker down and ride it out, and sometimes (rarely) they do die in our hard winters.

I live in an outlying area so I rarely go downtown. I do know that there are hotels (not many) that have been shuttered and those could be made into shelters. I doubt anyone wants to dump money into a homeless shelter.

I do know that some folks are homeless due to circumstances and others have chosen homelessness as a lifestyle. So while I have compassion towards the homeless, that compassion is peppered with skepticism as well. I DO think I am my brother's keeper but what if my brother honestly doesn't give a damn?

I've also become indifferent to folks panhandling outside of restaurants, stores and gas stations. I've been "hit up" more than once at a gas station right off the interstate here. Both times the same ploy and I do think it's a ploy. I don't know a way to distinguish between someone panhandling who is truly in need and who is using panhandling as their main source of income because they want to live a life of freedom and roam.

And for the life of me, I don't know why if they are outside of a Walmart or a restaurant, and are truly hungry, why they don't go inside and speak to a manager to get help and barter a bit of work for a meal.

I guess I don't understand where people are coming from and I am sure that their stories are varied as to why they are living the way they are. It's not like you can't get a job around here. I started working when I lied about my age at 17 to get a job, so no, I don't understand. Even in winter you could buy a snow shovel and go for it outside of a local business in exchange for food.

Excuse the rambling in this post...or not.

What I posted is just a tip of the reality of it , when I say people pooping and peeing in our streets I literally see it daily in some areas. There is no regards for litter laws and alike.

Wait until you see the video I plan to take from Anaheim, literally 2 or 3 miles from the happiest place on earth, it is really unbelievable. I want to also do a drive by in my old neighborhood in San Bernardino where I use to ride my bikes and get ice cream with by grand parents. I live about a 1/2 hour away from there by freeway, maybe I drop by there today on my way to Home Depot.

[_Markk]

Tell me I'm worthless.
SEE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiaxHUFAWew

She must be LDS talking to her bishop for TR

[_Jersey Girl]

Markkkkkkkkkk last fall I went to Universal Studios in Burbank. How far was I from the scenes that you're filming for us?

[_Markk]

Markk:

Darwin would have been aghast at Social Spencerism
SEE https://philosophynow.org/issues/71/Social_Spencerism

From your paste...

"The essence of Darwin’s theory of how this evolution works is that mutations (random inheritable physical changes) occasionally occur. Some of these mutations improve individuals’ ability to survive their environment, so they have a better chance of living long enough to reproduce, when the randomly-improved traits are ‘selected’ for. These new traits are then passed on to the next generation, and the improved trait would gradually spread through the population because advantageous."

Which shows Darwin believed, nature, like capitalism, is a form of survival of the strong. The stronger you are, the better off you will be.

[_Markk]

Markkkkkkkkkk last fall I went to Universal Studios in Burbank. How far was I from the scenes that you're filming for us?

Burbank is in basically North Hollywood...maybe 10 miles or so, but it is all over that area also, just scattered.

My point is that it is everywhere...I took a drive through San Bernardino and took a lot of videos, but they did not turn out too well...I need to get a better camera than the I phone...here are a few, the quality sucks though and it is hard to really see the impact.

This one is for dedicated to you...it is my old Ward...it is hard to see, but it is like a prison now...less the barbed wire...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDqYcEo4k7E

This one is my old little league park...now a mess...it is hard to tell by the crappy video but there are maybe 10 or 15 little tent type houses in the area. Even a full blown tent in the cemetery next door.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyLWOKRPS4k

This one is where I used to live...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-ShdtftQqY