Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?

Lucy just sent me the HUD announcement of Continuum of Care, and Emergency Shelter Grants for 2008.

The $1.5 billion for transitional, supportive and permanent housing, and for emergency shelters is important (no not simply important, vital and lifesaving) ask anyone who runs a shelter and they'll tell you that every shelter is overburdened, and there's not enough space to house those in need.

There are Republicans like Stu McKinney who would like to add state dollars to federal dollars ($126 million) that Connecticut gets.

Then there are conservative radio talk show hosts, like Buddy Vicevich, who seem to contradict themselves (and their own "christian" principles) when they say things like:

Homelessness is everyone's responsibility. Individuals need to volunteer and donate money to feed and shelter the poor and needy. And certainly local town and city governments have a responsibility to become involved as well. I am not sure it is a state government issue although I could be convinced otherwise. I know its not a federal mandate.

No Jim, it's a mandate from your friend, Jesus. How do you think he would have supported homeless vets?

The worst part, though, is that we're spending $2 billion a week fighting an immoral war in Iraq, and in the process creating a whole new generation of homeless vets.

I can't help but point out the inconsistency

On my way back from a meeting, I was listening to Jim Vicevich (WTIC-AM), making fun of his radio colleague Colin McEnroe, because Colin was returning from a trip to San Francisco.

"That's Disneyland for people like him, isn't it?" Vicevich ranted. "You know, for liberals, San Francisco is like Disneyland. Do you know they actually make it easier for homeless people there. They have food, shelter, health care, ID cards. They only thing they don' t have is...(Jim chuckles)...jobs."

Then Vicevich makes a pitch to donate to the Salvation Army, because, "That's what we're put on earth for, to help other people."

Huh?

Guess he doesn't see the disconnect.

And I'm sure he doesn't understand why people are homeless. It's not because they don't want jobs. Many are dealing with mental illness. Many are the very veterans who Vicevich so often praises. Many are people who have, for whatever reason - divorce, loss of a job, health issues - found themselves outside of the safety net.

Vicevich is a lip service Christian of the worst kind. In one sentence, he denigrates those of us who feel that all people deserve shelter, food, and healthcare, and in the next sentence he says it's our duty as humans to do the things he has just denigrated.

Most hilariously, when a caller suggested that anyone could volunteer, for any length of time, to be a bellringer for the Salvation Army, Vicevich had the perfect response.

"Because I'd never ask my listeners do something I wouldn't do, I urge you all to volunteer to be a bell ringer. And I promise, that next year, I'm going to volunteer."

Right. We're all positive that you'll make good on that promise, Lieutenant Chickenhawk.

Support the homeless troops

For all the tough talk, war hawks would rather forget that the troops they so frequently tell us to support, are often forgotten when they return to these shores, broken.

They're all around us, reminders of our mistakes, our pride and our misguided patriotism.

Next time you hear a chickenhawk squawking about giving the troops a chance to complete their mission, and ask them if they ever took a destitute veteran to lunch. I can almost guarantee the answer.