Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City is in the process of shipping homeless people elsewhere to take the burden off of New York City taxpayers, with most of them being sent on a one way paid trip by plane, bus or train to Puerto Rico, Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, but some overseas and far away.
His argument is that it is cheaper to give one way tickets than house the homeless in shelters, which indeed it is, without a doubt. But all he is doing is shifting the burden to other states and territories, and demonstrating that the value of human life is less important than that of animals.
Why is it that the homeless, the majority unfortunate victims of the economic recession, are being treated so shabbily by a government usually known for its compassion as compared to much of the country?  While certainly no one likes seeing homeless people, and no one in theory wants to pay for them, the fact is they exist and have the right to expect some human compassion by those of us more fortunate.Â
When there is more concern for pets and animals in general than for people, it indicates what a sick society we live in, in these times. People are willing to spend tons of money on pets, but not on fellow human beings who are down on their luck, in most cases through no fault of their own, and including large numbers of children.
I guess what it comes down to is the following: There but for the grace of God go I! That has always been my way of looking at it. As President Franklin D Roosevelt expressed seventy five years ago, a society is measured more by the way it treats those less fortunate than by its material wealth and success.
Apparently, Michael Bloomberg has forgotten this, and the fact that he, himself, has been very lucky, acquiring immense wealth in the billions of dollars, and yet has no compassion for those who are down and out is to be condemned! With his vast wealth, he could easily, with tax advantages as well, offer to contribute a portion of his endless riches to help the poor, rather than set out to dispose of them. With his amazing good fortune, and as a Jew, he should wish to pay back in thanks for his success in life, but I guess that is too much to expect from a man not known for more than his interest in his self aggrandizement.
Michael Bloomberg should be ashamed of himself!