Monday, August 16, 2010

NIMBYs vs. NoMBYs

Forum response to Sacramento's mayor to keep pushing for homeless campground

I have a sneaking suspicion the real fuel for this forum's angst is fear.  No one wants to face how easily NIMBYs have become NoMBYs (No More Back Yard).  No one can miss it, either.

The self-serving comments in this forum serve no one. Forget asking what happened to humanity/human kindness.  What about critical thinking? Common sense? Sigh.

New Rule: Present problems with solutions.
New Rule: Balance criticism with contribution.

Here's mine. Once upon a time (Regan era) my grandmother educated me on the "poor houses" of her own and prior generations. Not a PC term by today's standards. As she explained it there was a poor house on the outskirts of most towns. No one wanted to live there, but when the need arose the roof was there. The community directed resources to poor houses, and hired labor from them. Town secular and civic interests provided stewardship.

I'm sure the solution was far from ideal.  By her first-hand experience, my grandmother described it as an ongoing solution for an issue that has been around since the dawn of human economy. Solution for today? Doubtful. Experience to harvest? Absolutely. What other knowledge is sitting

Gibran wrote "And before you leave the market place, see that no one has gone his way with empty hands.  For the master spirit of the earth shall not sleep peacefully upon the wind til the needs of the least of you are satisfied."  It's good business, good for the economy.

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