Show off your favorite abandoned-garbage-riverside-homeless-camps of 2022!

[Dustin Chromers]

View attachment 49664
The year is 2023... Ted's Sports Center is now a homeless camp.

After decades of effective policy Washington was plunged into a tyrannical hellscape. Since the cancellation of The Running Man gameshow steelhead were hunted to extinction. The homeless/drug camps received endangered species protection status. Even the corporation and Robocop was powerless to stop them. All was lost as the angling populace was forced to live a subterranean existence avoiding the scandroid hunter seeker known as MIKE and fishing for bass that were too high in mercury to consume. As the elders read ancient texts about the meek inheriting the earth one could not help but wonder if by meek they actually meant freaks. For it was true that in this world the drug freaks have at least inherited the city. Tomorrow perhaps the earth. What was next for Western Washington was anyone's guess. One thing was clear. It would have to get worse before it gets better. The governor appointed commission put out their hit list and every active sport angler was on it and MIKE was on their tail sniffing out their neural signature. The dark times were upon the state with no bright chrome to ward off the impending evil and darkness.

 

[DimeBrite]

After decades of effective policy Washington was plunged into a tyrannical hellscape. Since the cancellation of The Running Man gameshow steelhead were hunted to extinction. The homeless/drug camps received endangered species protection status. Even the corporation and Robocop was powerless to stop them. All was lost as the angling populace was forced to live a subterranean existence avoiding the scandroid hunter seeker known as MIKE and fishing for bass that were too high in mercury to consume. As the elders read ancient texts about the meek inheriting the earth one could not help but wonder if by meek they actually meant freaks. For it was true that in this world the drug freaks have at least inherited the city. Tomorrow perhaps the earth. What was next for Western Washington was anyone's guess. One thing was clear. It would have to get worse before it gets better. The governor appointed commission put out their hit list and every active sport angler was on it and MIKE was on their tail sniffing out their neural signature. The dark times were upon the state with no bright chrome to ward off the impending evil and darkness.

There is a new lord of the Dick Nites!

 

[Dustin Chromers]

View attachment 49672
There is a new lord of the Dick Nites!

The Dick Knights were some real low down dicks as they betrayed their biological counterparts to serve their machine lord.

 

[SurfnFish]

When millions of immigrants show up at our southern border, they are homeless, the vast majority unskilled and do not speak english, and will likely end up on tax payor assistance for food and housing, will end up in our schools and medical systems. They will given benefits that many if not most of our own homeless cannot get.
The cost of immigration in 2020 was pegged at 61 billion, and that does address wage suppression caused by the endless labor pool provided by immigrants for the low tier jobs, which keeps wages for such jobs on the floor. And throw in a couple of billion to prosecute and warehouse the 70,000 immigrants current in state and federal prisons.
Think what could we do to assist our own citizens on the street with those dollars.
Why do we spend so much money and political capitol on the immigration problem and not on the homeless problem.

The Cost of Immigration | Federation for American Immigration Reform

A 1996 estimate (pre-welfare reform) of the fiscal burden on American taxpayers by Dr. Donald Huddle outlines $32.7 billion in costs from illegal aliens and $112 billion from legal immigrants.

www.fairus.org

 

[Dustin Chromers]

When millions of immigrants show up at our southern border, they are homeless, the vast majority unskilled and do not speak english, and will likely end up on tax payor assistance for food and housing, will end up in our schools and medical systems. They will given benefits that many if not most of our own homeless cannot get.
The cost of immigration in 2020 was pegged at 61 billion, and that does address wage suppression caused by the endless labor pool provided by immigrants for the low tier jobs, which keeps wages for such jobs on the floor. And throw in a couple of billion to prosecute and warehouse the 70,000 immigrants current in state and federal prisons.
Think what could we do to assist our own citizens on the street with those dollars.
Why do we spend so much money and political capitol on the immigration problem and not on the homeless problem.

The Cost of Immigration | Federation for American Immigration Reform

A 1996 estimate (pre-welfare reform) of the fiscal burden on American taxpayers by Dr. Donald Huddle outlines $32.7 billion in costs from illegal aliens and $112 billion from legal immigrants.

www.fairus.org

If only we had a border or something.

 

[Cal I Baetis]

If only we had a border or something.

 

[SurfnFish]

If only we had a border or something.

No one has ever gotten the border right, neither party, not a single politican. All hot air, pandering, false promise posturing, and front page drama without any actual comprehensive solutions ever landing on the floor for a vote and implemntation. It is the thorniest problem in our country and has been for decades. And it's not just the immigration, it's the relentless flow of toxic drugs over the border, killing our young, addicting millions, turbo-charging the addictive homeless problem.

 

[Dustin Chromers]

No one has ever gotten the border right, neither party, not a single politican. All hot air, pandering, false promise posturing, and front page drama without any actual comprehensive solutions ever landing on the floor for a vote and implemntation. It is the thorniest problem in our country and has been for decades. And it's not just the immigration, it's the relentless flow of toxic drugs over the border, killing our young, addicting millions, turbo-charging the addictive homeless problem.

Some problems are too compelling to voters to solve. By the way your replacements and clandestine product has arrived. Hurry home though you don't want the porch pirates sailing the high streets of Seattle to plunder them before you get there.

 

[SurfnFish]

By the way your replacements and clandestine product has arrived. Hurry home though you don't want the porch pirates sailing the high streets of Seattle to plunder them before you get there.

??? Only plundering here in Sunriver is deer eating our planted flowers.

 

[JayB]

Interesting what one of the only guys doing effective effective outreach and remediation encounters when he's out trying to engage with the homeless, get them indoors, and clean-up public spaces. Not tech savvy enough to avoid double-posting a couple of the tweets, but it's worth a scroll if you're interested in getting a glimpse into some of the dynamics at play.

 

[charles sullivan]

No one has ever gotten the border right, neither party, not a single politican. All hot air, pandering, false promise posturing, and front page drama without any actual comprehensive solutions ever landing on the floor for a vote and implemntation. It is the thorniest problem in our country and has been for decades. And it's not just the immigration, it's the relentless flow of toxic drugs over the border, killing our young, addicting millions, turbo-charging the addictive homeless problem.

I believe that you are correct with regards to the hot air etc. Well said. homelessness and immigration seem to bring out the worst in American communication. There is a certain stubbornness that is reinforced that gets in the way of useful dialogue and solutions (emphasis on the plural).

The common framing of the border issues we see in the USA has been counterproductive. We definitely get bogged down holding on to false choices. We seem more willing to us frames and words to reinforce our own belief's and "own" the perceived other side rather than using frames and words that people with differing perspectives can understand. I suppose the dopamine hit that we get from righteous indignation exceeds any reward that we get when we are able to engage in healthy political debate or just learning in general.

If someone were to really honestly want to reduce immigration, they would use far different frames to describe the issue.

One example: If you were to look at the more socialized Northern European countries, they limit immigration. They spend on themselves. They have nice things, from time off to health care etc. If you were to try to convince otherwise more socialist minded people that immigration was an issue, this would be a very good example of why. I never hear it though from those who fixate on immigration. Instead , modern American communication consists of simplified moronic memes that are designed to insult the very people that would need to be swayed in order to change the status quo. They consist of false dichotomies, unnecessarily emotional rhetoric, racist tropes and shaming "the other side".

We blame politicians but we are the ones who continue to speak to each other this way.

 

[JayB]

Won't post this guy's entire Twitter stream, but I think a fair-minded person can listen to this interaction and have ample reason to question both the efficiency and the efficacy of the approach that the political leadership has developed and funded.

 

[SurfnFish]

On the road this morning, heard an interview on local radio with a foster home outreach counselor, discussing how at eighteen years old foster kids (there are over 400,000 in facilities at any one time) are shown the front door from their care facility with very little support on what to do next. According to her:

"70% will be on the street and homeless within one year."
"80% of females will be pregnant within three years."
"30% will be incarcerated by the time they are 21."

and that's just friggin sad

 

[Dustin Chromers]

Interesting what one of the only guys doing effective effective outreach and remediation encounters when he's out trying to engage with the homeless, get them indoors, and clean-up public spaces. Not tech savvy enough to avoid double-posting a couple of the tweets, but it's worth a scroll if you're interested in getting a glimpse into some of the dynamics at play.

Once the ESA listed persons of the Seattle wildlife move into an area a monument is built and their castings enshrined as a natural wonder. Zombie tours became popular and the children rejoiced. The Seattle wildlife service and housing authority SWSHA declare no fly zones to protect these magnificent recovering animals. Certain areas and parks are abandoned as to not disturb breeding packs. The year is 2023 my name is Dustin and this is my story.

 

[DarrellP]

Until the addiction crisis is dealt with, there will be a homeless crisis. These are not Okies looking for a job, these are junkies looking for a fix. Some are drunks, and some mentally ill. The largest problem in Portland at least, is drugs. I see people smoking stuff in our parking lot all the time, and it ain't weed. It is a mental health crisis brought mostly by drugs.

 

[SurfnFish]

It is a mental health crisis brought mostly by drugs

"According to SAMHSA, 38% of homeless people abused alcohol while 26% abused other drugs."

Substance Abuse & Homelessness: Statistics & Rehab Treatment

Seeking treatment can be beneficial for those who are homeless and struggling with substance use disorders. However, many people who are homeless don’t know where to turn for help when they’re struggling with substance abuse issues. Or, they may not feel that they have the resources to get help...

americanaddictioncenters.org

 

[Dustin Chromers]

"According to SAMHSA, 38% of homeless people abused alcohol while 26% abused other drugs."

Substance Abuse & Homelessness: Statistics & Rehab Treatment

Seeking treatment can be beneficial for those who are homeless and struggling with substance use disorders. However, many people who are homeless don’t know where to turn for help when they’re struggling with substance abuse issues. Or, they may not feel that they have the resources to get help...

americanaddictioncenters.org

To be fair and serious on the issue for a change I think there is a chicken and egg debate to be had here. I believe drug and alcohol abuse drives mental illness and mental illness drives people towards drugs and alcohol. It's hard to know in any individual case what came first and therefore hard to say what root cause caused what. And at the end of the day does it change protocol or best practices to treat? Addressing both in about all cases is probably not a bad strategy. From there more accurate assessment can be made and hopefully progress. The real rub is the success rate for treating either issue in individuals who don't want help is very challenging if not impossible.

 

[albula]

Once the ESA listed persons of the Seattle wildlife move into an area a monument is built and their castings enshrined as a natural wonder. Zombie tours became popular and the children rejoiced. The Seattle wildlife service and housing authority SWSHA declare no fly zones to protect these magnificent recovering animals. Certain areas and parks are abandoned as to not disturb breeding packs. The year is 2023 my name is Dustin and this is my story.

View attachment 49787

At times you try a little too hard.

 

[Ceviche]

To be fair and serious on the issue for a change I think there is a chicken and egg debate to be had here. I believe drug and alcohol abuse drives mental illness and mental illness drives people towards drugs and alcohol. It's hard to know in any individual case what came first and therefore hard to say what root cause caused what. And at the end of the day does it change protocol or best practices to treat? Addressing both in about all cases is probably not a bad strategy. From there more accurate assessment can be made and hopefully progress. The real rub is the success rate for treating either issue in individuals who don't want help is very challenging if not impossible.

Anyone ask the homeless why they are exasperated with life, what brought them there in the first place? After that, it’s the black vortex of the state of how they are that we see. Displacement and the ensuing depression easily becomes its own form of inextricable madness.

There are sane people who have lost their homes for various reasons. These are the easiest to help. Those who have been fallen by tragedy and lost their bearings are of another ilk. These need serious outreach.

Regrettably, I also think there are also a select few who are neither, but have found a way to exploit the chaos for their own gain. They sit both high and low and are nothing more than criminals that have found a niche enterprise.

It takes a certain kind of mind to set up a team to run a chop shop or pup tent meth lab in the middle of a homeless camp. Am I right? Especially when it’s known that cops aren’t policing there. The perfect cover.

What really bugs me is that all this keeps getting lumped into a dull grey, single, catch-all mass by city councils, politicians, and big media. There are a few voices that have examined one or two angles to the situation (typically by public-funded media) with depth and insight.

However, whenever I hear of single-prong, catch-all solutions (like affordable housing being the end-all, be-all answer—which only addresses just one segment of the homeless population), I get the feeling that the guys running the chop shops and the real estate developers are actually blood relatives.

I could go on, but I have to take my blood pressure meds.

 

[FinLuver]

Oregon’s newly “elected” Governor thinks that fleecing the law-abiding, hard working, tax paying citizens to house the homeless (add a layer of government) is the way to solve the issue (pad their coffers).