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Make preventable homeless deaths a crime

  (+3, -13)(+3, -13)
(+3, -13)
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Seems like there are still homeless people in first world countries that are still dying from hypothermia. This is since the typical reason not enough resources are provided for such people is due to a lack of voting power from the homeless.

To help correct this somewhat, maybe we can have a simple law.

Every time a homeless individual dies a preventable death, a hefty exponentially increasing fine is leavyed against the local council and the federal government. The money is then disbursed equally to the homeless population.

This includes death by hypothermia, death by killer teenagers, death by other hobos, and others that would not usually occur if they actually had a safe home.

This might end up with an unintended consequences of the remaining homeless people killing each other to increase the pool. But if the council and the government really cares about saving taxpayers money, this would be the incentive to actually solve the issue rather than simply pushing it to the next neighbourhood.

mofosyne, Mar 09 2015

Killer Teens http://www.abc.net....-werewolves/5809462
Teenager who killed homeless man in Melbourne believed he was battling werewolves, court hears [mofosyne, Mar 09 2015]

Killer Weather http://thinkprogres...ness-public-health/
This Week’s Cold Front Could Be Deadly For The Homeless [mofosyne, Mar 09 2015]

Killer Bees http://www.nbc.com/...e-killer-bees/n8622
Home invasion goes south [normzone, Mar 09 2015]

[link]






       To paraphrase Reagan, the scariest sentence in the English language is "there ought to be a law"   

       [Wibni]
theircompetitor, Mar 09 2015
  

       More likely to criminalise and punish the other homeless people for any such deaths instead.
pocmloc, Mar 09 2015
  

       // This might end up with an unintended consequences of the remaining homeless people killing each other to increase the pool. //   

       Maybe not practical politics, but certainty a great starting point for reality TV show, so [+].
8th of 7, Mar 09 2015
  

       //...this would be the incentive to actually solve the issue rather than simply pushing it to the next neighbourhood.   

       What? How? Fear of fines would most certainly motivate municipalities push it to the next neighbourhood.   

       If you're intent on penalizing group A for actions by group B, why not just make homeless people limited wards of the state? The state could then legally compel homeless people to have medical care, forcibly confine them in overnight shelters, etc, rather than harassing them about the same out of fear of getting fined. I don't think that's a good idea either, but at least it's out in the open.
the porpoise, Mar 09 2015
  

       [porpoise] is right - this would simply drive the local councils to lock up homeless people in something akin to a sanitarium.   

       I'm far from being an expert, but from what I know, you can't consider the homeless as a homogenous group. There is a proportion of down-on their luck, otherwise healthy-ish, capable, regular people in various stages of economic distress. There is a proportion of mentally ill people in various stages of being able to look after themselves. There is also a proportion of people hopelessly addicted to drugs who may or may not be interested/willing/able to undergo treatment. There are combinations of the above, and other "categories" as well.   

       Now, of the above, which groups, (if you're able to readily differentiate them) should the council be responsible for their safety? (sorry that's poor sentence structure). How would the council go about ensuring that?   

       I think what you're trying to get at is adequate provision of homeless shelter/food. In which case a simple metric would be utilisation. It could easily be shown that full shelters means other people miss out. Perhaps the best metric would be people turned away at the door because it's full.
Custardguts, Mar 09 2015
  

       The city hall would be eager to have the homeless transported outside the city's boundaries to let the blame fall on the neighbours. If penalties for dying hobos are high enough this would lead to border checkpoints at each town's borders and you would have to present your cheque book to get a visa - much like in a gated community. In effect it would punish the poor municipalities for being poor. [-]
Toto Anders, Mar 09 2015
  

       I can't see how this prevents any deaths. I can see it funding drunks and druggies to self termination. -
popbottle, Mar 10 2015
  

       //a hefty exponentially increasing fine is leavyed against the local council //   

       because that won't encourage police to drive away the homeless, not at all.
Voice, Mar 10 2015
  

       //I can't see how this prevents any deaths. I can see it funding drunks and druggies to self termination.//   

       It's either that or they get voted into office. Really the better outcome.
RayfordSteele, Mar 10 2015
  

       Make ALL deaths a crime!   

       Seems like there are sill people in first, second and third world countries that are still dying. This is since not enough resources are provided for medical research due to a lack of voting power for people who like to use data to make decisions. To help correct this somewhat, maybe we can have a simple law. Every time an individual dies, a fine is levied against all surviving people. The money is then disbursed to scientists' research needs in equal proportion to the population killed by each cause of death.   

       This includes death by hypothermia, death by mental disorders, death by other people, and others that would not usually occur if people could actually cooperate instead of screwing over each other constantly.   

       This might end up with the unintended consequences of remaining people killing each other to increase the research funding pool. But if the council, the government and individuals actually care about human rights, this would be an incentive to actually solve the issue of aging and death rather than simply pushing it to the next generation.   

       ---   

       While I wish the world were better, I admire the poetry by which democracy makes people partly responsible for their own suffering and death.
sninctown, Mar 10 2015
  

       I'd add old age to the list of criminal deaths.
MaxwellBuchanan, Mar 10 2015
  

       The problem is that its not a problem with any clear solution, there are many attempts to end homelessness with some level of effectiveness. but no clear cut fix alls. plus its expensive, and lets face many refuse attempts for rehab/work placements not all of them are willing to help themselves.
bob, Mar 13 2015
  

       What Toto Anders said. Plus, this what just divert money into legal fees. Proving in court that a death was, within reason, 'unpreventable' would become just another drain on our pockets.
DrBob, Mar 14 2015
  

       I can't see how you make the jump from "local council" (never mind that most local authorities aren't "councils" but cities or counties) to federal government. Have you no concept of states? Or do you hail from a country other than the USA?
bammin, Mar 16 2015
  

       One of the things Reagan did I disagree with: as governor of California, he ended compulsory sanitoriums for crazy people. Shortly thereafter, there were lots of homeless people. A peculiar correlation...
bammin, Mar 16 2015
  
      
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