Putting the bite on feeding hands

A grand jury in San Fraqncisco is reporting that the city spends $186 million a year in city funds spent to finance homeless programs. As a result, 50 to 75 percent of the "street people" actually live in taxpayer-supported housing. Still, the pandhandling persists, and people seem baffled:

"We just warehouse addicts," said the grand jury's Stuart Smith. "Granted, it is a nicer place for them, but it doesn't address the problem."

In short, the jury is reflecting the views of many San Franciscans who made the choice to live here. They understood that housing and taxes would be higher, and so would the cost of a meal in a restaurant. They understand and believe that the city needs to provide for its poorest homeless residents and don't begrudge what the grand jury says is $186 million a year in city funds spent to finance homeless programs.

But, they ask, can't someone stop the panhandling? And, given all the programs and services, is it unreasonable to ask those who are being given supportive housing to start making some effort to be self-sufficient?

You get more of the behavior you subsidize. If that one simple truth could be pounded into liberals' heads, more than half of what's screwing up this country could be corrected.