Reply #85: It's a real difficult question. First. It shouldn't be ILLEGAL.

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Because, some people do CHOOSE that style of life.

As hard as it is for some of us to wrap our heads around some perfectly stable people do choose an unfettered lifestyle. The railroad hobo even achieved somewhat of a celebrated status for awhile. There have been other examples in the mass media too.

Harper's magazine, this month has an article about a trip down the Mississippi in a homemade "raft" by some homeless.

But there are some people out their that really need help though. People who are unable to help themselves and who are constantly victimized day after day. The mentally handicapped and the mentally ill, those savaged by their own addictions. I think those people need to be helped rather than continue to turn a blind eye.

What that help would amount to is another story.

I don't think that ongoing enabling (i.e. free room and board without accountability) of someone with an addiction would necessarily be helpful.

For the mentally unstable or handicapped I think going back to times of involuntary commitment of these homeless would be very troubling.

At least they would be clean, warm and fed but....my gawd. We certainly couldn't return to the Mental Asylums of Cuckoo's Nest infamy.

It's not a magic wand issue by any means.