Poll: Hungary bans homeless people.

[ShadowsofHope]

-Snip-

You know, it'd probably be much easier to find the point of your walls of text if you simply just use less words for less words instead of more words for less words to emphasize the core thesis of pretty much every one:

"Them darned liberals." I mean, that's pretty much all they come down to, in the end. Disgruntled Conservative blogging.

OT: Hungary, stop using the logic (or lack of it) the U.S. Senate loves to on a regular basis, it's bad for you. I mean really, this law is a whole new brand of "..Wtf how?".

 

[Robert Ewing]

Wow. I guess homeless people won't go hungary anymore if they aren't allowed to.

I'll end my life now for that joke.

 

[MegaManOfNumbers]

While we're at it let's ban murder and having credit card debt. That'll make it go away!

Yup, that makes sense.

Just like how telling a person to stop breathing will stop them from breathing.

.....

Alright, WHAT KIND OF FUCKING SENSE DOES THIS MAKE?! I know politicians are evil, but are they also stupid?! WHAT?!

 

[brainslurper]

Now, I may be wrong about this, but isn't the first step to having a home in any particular country to be in that country without a home?

And even then, there's the logistical problem that those without homes tend to be the same people as those who can't pay fines

WRONG. With all the money they save by not having a home, they should be able to pay lots of fines. Isn't that how it works?

 

[CODE-D]

Maybe the U.S. (my) government isnt so dumb afterall....

 

[Andy Szidon]

They imply that being homeless and poor is something people do out of choice, and that they could easily choose not to be like that.

They could work hard...and not smoke...and get a job... and other stuff.

 

[Alexlion]

They imply that being homeless and poor is something people do out of choice, and that they could easily choose not to be like that.

They could work hard...and not smoke...and get a job... and other stuff.

How?

Mabye your right though as an employer what i look for is some one with a CV written on the back of a plastic bag found in the trash with crayon. Having no way to contact them for an interview and them turning up not having bathed in 2 months and a clean set of clothes in several more.

The only way they could get enough money for some clean clothes and a bath is if some one takes pity on them, and without that no one would hire them.

 

[CrystalShadow]

They imply that being homeless and poor is something people do out of choice, and that they could easily choose not to be like that.

They could work hard...and not smoke...and get a job... and other stuff.

Ah yes... Wait... Not smoke? What's that got to do with anything.

But 'get a job' is not the triviality everyone makes it out to be.

There have to be jobs. And you have to be better at convincing someone to hire you than anyone else fighting for the same job.

And this all still assumes things like this are based on merit. Which isn't anywhere near as true as people like to think it is...

Aside from which, there's a difference between avoiding a bad situation in the first place, and getting out of it once you're there.

And, the worst part is, you can end up in a bad situation quite easily, and there's nothing you can do about it.

And the only way out is usually if someone helps you dig yourself out of the hole.

But... How likely is that in a society where this is considered your own fault exactly?
"If it's your own fault, I don't have to help you. So... Too bad. See ya.
Not like it could possibly happen to me, because I work hard!"

 

[zidine100]

so there actively going out of there way to fine people who by definition have no money.

Stop right there criminal scum, you know this really reminds me of how oblivion guards were programed, npc who commit crimes have no gold ergo cant pay the fine, what dont look at me like that its a gaming forum dang it.

while i dont know about the situation in Hungary but to all the people who are saying get a job, i mean really have you ever tryed getting a job, unless you have a university degree of some sort or have experience or a nice pair of tits (im really not joking at this point) you will not get a full time job/ very unlikely.

But then again, if your homeless at this point is it really worse going to prison (note i don't know how bad Hungary prison system is) i mean you have a roof over your head and food.

 

[Cazza]

That is just ridiculous, although in jail at least they'd have food and shelter.

and living with the people society deemed fit to lock away.

People make jail sound like a walk in the park.

 

[zidine100]

That is just ridiculous, although in jail at least they'd have food and shelter.

and living with the people society deemed fit to lock away.

People make jail sound like a walk in the park.

you could say..... its better than living in one.


YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!

couldn't resist.

 

[Ithera]

I have no problem with it, as long as it is coupled with a robust housing program. If it gets them of park benches and into decent apartments I'm all for it. Sadly this doesn't seem to be the case. Other than that, how do you fine somebody with no money? What? should one throw them in jail? Yeah that will do wonders and make everything better.

Kicking a somebody while they is down is never the way to go (Unless it's Blood bowl, bloody wardancers).

 

[Ithera]

Let me put the Hungary government thought process past you real quick: MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY!

Yeah..... money. The homeless are no doubt an endless source of revenue and filthy lucre. Just think about the enormous savings they must have from not eating properly and not paying rent.

 

[SteewpidZombie]

So...can we fix stupidity and ignorance with mass cullings or lobotomizations in North America yet? Because I'm pretty sure that both situations would be/are incredibly stupid in their own rights.

 

[Brawndo]

If I were a homeless person in Hungary and a cop tried to enforce that law against me, I'd be all like, "Cool story officer bro, now haul me off to jail where I'll be warm and have a real bed and three meals a day."

 

[Jingle Fett]

So they're going to fine someone who's broke? I suppose they should demand food from the starving while they're at it...

 

[William Ossiss]

I don't know about everyone else, but something about this seems... pun worthy. Or at least worthy of being made into a joke. Something like:
"The homeless people were so hungry that they tried to eat the country, so they banned them."
It works, but not as well as I'd like.

 

[Kopikatsu]

I don't know if anyone realizes this, but we have laws like this in the United States, too. They're called Vagrancy laws. For example, if you don't have an ID or more than $2 on your person, you get a $50+ fine.

Hope you find a place to keep your wallet while lounging at the beach, ladies. (As in, put some damn clothes on!)

 

[Lancer873]

"You're just treating a symptom, it's a problem with the human race. The fish rots from the head, as they say. If you want to cure the disease, you have to cut off the head."
"... Of humanity?"
"... It's not a... perfect metaphor..."
Is it wrong that this is the only thing I can think of right now?

 

[TheIronRuler]

They will just fill their Jails with the homeless, where they will be provided with warm beds, food and free healthcare.

You write it as irony, but this may just be the point of the law.

Many homeless people struggle with multiple problems and refuse voluntary help. A law like that can be used as a handle to attempt and forcibly help such homeless people. For instance mental disorders could be diagnosed by force and then treated, while out on the streets, you'd never get them to visit a doctor, let alone a psychiatrist a lot of times.

The Netherlands has a similar thing called 'bemoeizorg' which would translate as something like 'harassing care' that's really a big succes. Basically aid workers seek out problematic people who avoid things like social services and try to move them to accept care.
Similarly we have a law that allows to put in prison systematic offenders of small crimes for two years where they can be made to undergo treatment such as detoxing from drugs or treating mental illness. Again, a smashing succes.
But fairly draconic, because someone could receive two years in prison for simple shoplifting. Then again, people like that are caught shoplifting or stealing almost weekly.

Because before that, for many cities, a group of only a few hundred of these systematic offenders, often homeless, drug addicts, or both, caused the vast majority of crime. For instance the capital Amsterdam (population nearly 800.000) had 600 of those systematic offenders in 2001, and they were responsible for over two-thirds of all crime in the city. In turn 90% of those systematic offenders were drug addicts.

But since those two measures are in place, that number has dropped sharply, and crime figures have been decreasing each year since.


So returning to Hungary, I wouldn't write off this measure as being bad just yet. With sensible enforcement and sufficiently investments in services in prisons, this could actually be a good thing.

A lot will depend on how they shape the enforcement of this law, and what sort of rehabilitation measures they take in prison. If they just put them in a cell untill they're released, it's pointless.

.
I thought that doing such a thing will burden their Justice system greatly, that's why I didn't approve of it. Rehabilitating them is wonderful and all, though I don't think such a thing can be done successfully in most cases, but will they have enough room for all of those men and women?