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As usual - a very in depth look at Big Picture challenges in America Joan!

This topic seems VERY complex - poverty, debt-ceilings, entitlements, etc.

- I am curious if, like the topic of abortion & homelessness, politicians could focus on SOLUTIONS versus partisanship? For example, in the past week - I've encountered 2 groups outside on campus at CSCC and the Karl Road Library - Pro Life people and Pro Choice. What's silly about this is - these volunteers and organizations FROM BOTH SIDES which are minimally spending money on FULL SIZE, color copied signs of tiny fetuses and campaigning with glossy brochures and handing out buttons - were dumbfounded when I tried to discuss SOLUTIONS: I said, "This is an EASY and FAST solution: Big Pharma and the Federal Government could reduce 1.4 million abortions per year tomorrow if they simply provided FREE birth control and condoms - NO QUESTIONS ASKED - on every counter of every Walgreens, Krogers, Wal Mart, CVS, Target, Giant Eagle, Rite Aid, etc and at EVERY PUBLIC & school library and nurse. That number would MINIMALLY be cut in half in 1 year. It costs Big Pharma nearly zero to do so - and if their collective billions ("With $24 billion in net income, Novartis was unexpectedly the most profitable pharma company in 2021, beating Pfizer and J&J, which recorded $22 billion and $21 billion,") in profits can't afford it - perhaps the U.S. Military Industrial Complex could build 1 less of each of these aircrafts next year:

(" B-2 Spirit: $737 million

F-22 Raptor: $350 million

C17A Globemaster III: $328 million

P-8A Poseidon: $290 million

VH-71 Kestrel: $241 million

E-2D Advanced Hawkeye: $232 million

F-35 Lightning II: $122 million

V-22 Osprey: $118 million

EA-18G Growler: $102 million

F/A-18 Hornet: $94 million")

We need solutions. We need solutions. We need solutions.

Likewise, I can MINIMIZE the homelessness problem in America tomorrow. As an illustration, we have 31 U.S. Military bases in California - undoubtedly, the state suffering from the Homelessness Epidemic in America the worst. What's are THE biggest concerns for the homeless? It's the first tier of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, right? Food, water, shelter, clothing, and (safety...Tier 2)

We could clean up these streets TOMORROW in Los Angles who has nearly 100,000 living on the streets in tents - also known as "Skid Row."

- Each homeless person would have access to barracks with:

1. A bed.

2. 3 meals per day.

3. Fresh water.

4. Hot showers.

5. Clean clothes. (albeit green, khaki, or white)

6. Shelter from elements.

Additionally, the BIGGER problem with homelessness is what? Mental Health. Hmmmmm, I wonder if there is an U.S. Government Agency that specializes in mental health, trauma, PTSD. Oh wait! There is!

It's called the VA - Veteran's Association!

The homeless could have a network of Professional Medical Staff trained in trauma and dispensing Rx if needed.

These are just 2 examples of SOLUTIONS that the U.S. Govt. could fix tomorrow with Pilot Programs beginning in Los Angeles and any other major city suffering from poverty and access to basic healthcare.

Keep writing Joan! I love that you make me think!

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Wow! I definitely agree with your solutions—and in my view, they are doable. Maybe not super quickly, but there is no better time to start than the present.

I will also add that you are proposing government money to help people ( the pilot program for the homeless), which is a non-starter for many conservatives, who do not see government's role that way and seem to think that all government money going directly to help people is a government "handout" to be abolished.

As to free birth control, I agree with you 100%. But again, I believe the religious right sees sex before marriage as a sin, and making birth control free will lead to...who knows what horrible outcomes! There are a good percentage of conservatives who would like to eliminate birth control altogether because it fosters the sinful act of sex while stopping procreation, which they see as the only legitimate reason for sex. I don't know the statistics at the moment, but I hope this type of conservative thinking reflects only a minimum percentage of our population.

Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Zin!

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