I drive up US1 through Daytona Beach, Florida and suddenly they appear. The men (usually) stand by the stoplights holding crude cardboard signs they have made. The message is how they need monetary help for their next meal, and in many instances the hidden need for whatever addiction they carry within. Lately, there are new, creative signs that state “I lied. I need money for a beer.” Humor from these poor souls that dress worse than any 1930s Depression era hobo. It breaks my heart as I think of a family member of mine with a mental illness who could very easily wind up out on that corner.
I don’t need scientific research to ‘school me’ that many of the homeless are mentally ill folks married to an addiction. The addiction only negatively complements their sad state of mental illness. Where do these unfortunates sleep each night, in a bed or on the ground behind some vacant building? And what about the millions of Americans who are NOT mentally ill or addicted to any substance that are also homeless? My brother in Oakland reports to me how there is an entire line of parked cars each night where people with regular jobs have to sleep until morning and go back to work. The rents are just too prohibitively high for these people. The other homeless folks find or own very old vans that they live in under the highway overpass. What is the answer to this national disgrace?
The Trump right wing train is about to cut taxes for the very wealthy, which in itself is a disgrace. Does anyone realize that the top federal tax bracket is 37%, when Reagan took office it was 70% before he lowered it to 50%? Methinks the super rich got it pretty good right now… and any more cuts should be criminal! So, to make things better for millions of our homeless and or mentally ill and or addicted, let’s establish a 50% Flat Surtax on all income over $1,000,000 a year. Understand that the initial up $ one million in income would be taxed at the 37% rate (before deductions). Imagine how all that extra revenue could be used to establish mental health and addiction counseling centers (FREE to all) and government owned and run nonprofit housing for those in need… meaning millions of folks who actually work but cannot afford the private landlord Diktat. Let’s go a bit further and have local governments use Eminent Domain laws to buy private landlord buildings and do the nonprofit thing. As one who has lived most of my life under the auspices of private landlords, the average landlord will do as little as possible to maintain, so as to keep their rental profit high… Period!
Yes, we should, as a society, not allow another citizen to destroy his or her life before our very eyes. Sometimes ‘Tough Love’ is necessary if done in a humane way. Imagine if the police come upon an obviously mentally ill and or addicted person, and have a professional social worker with them. The social worker conducts a street corner interview and offers the homeless one a chance for a nice shower, change of clothes and hot meal. That could work, and if it doesn’t then a decision has to be made if that person may be a threat to him or herself or to others. Then the individual is made to go with them to a police station for a shower, change of clothes and hot meal with a follow-up interview with a mental health professional. To all those who love to pontificate about ‘Freedom and Liberty’ ask them if that poor soul on that street corner is their son, daughter or grandchild, how would they then act?
PA Farruggio
July, 2025
A sad and poignant commentary by a concerned journalist…the ideas put forth here by Mr.Farruggio make sense,are very humane,and will definitely address the issues of the homeless and those homeless who also suffer from psychological /mental illness.His idea of taxing those who make more than $1 million annually at a then imposed higher tax rate is completely fair…as he says,the 1st million is assessed at the 37% rate…after that amount,tax them more.Bravo!!! And please don’t throw out the B.S. that it goes against the spirit of capitalism and reduces incentive… Corporate Capitalism,by it’s very nature for the most part,has no spirit or soul.
thanks Prof Mike. right on target appreciated
Not quite the same situation but…when briefly visiting Konstanz (Germany) for shopping etc. I always encounter a number of beggars – mostly women and mostly from Eastern Europe. Instead of giving money I’ll approach one or the other and offer to buy them something to eat and drink. One way of avoiding money going towards the purchase of drugs.