Pubdate: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Peace Arch News Contact: http://www.peacearchnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333 Author: Thomas Toye DON'T ENCOURAGE JUNKIES, HOMELESS Editor; Re: Bums Prefer Ocean Views (B.C. Views, Sept. 7) I just returned from a two-week holiday visiting family, most of whom emigrated to B.C. 50 years ago. I have two aunts, three cousins and their extended families living in Maple Ridge and I always receive a warm welcome. I congratulate you on your article, which I read on the Internet. Here in Scotland we have the same problems with the so-called "homeless drug addicts" and the same bleeding heart politicians and social workers with schemes, projects and solutions to the problems of crime, squatting on private property and vandalism caused by these people. Throwing public money at them, giving them sympathy, free needles and places to inject, etc., is futile. I know -- I'm a civil servant in the Department of Work and Pensions, and the word "work" is simply not in their vocabulary. We have them here, too: people who would rather commit suicide than do a day's honest hard work. Why should they? When our government and its agencies give them welfare, so-called community care grants and everything they need to lead a comfortable life -- all at taxpayers' expense? We live in crazy times, and with increasingly crazy liberal governments not only tolerating these parasites but encouraging them, things will never change. Your article was accurate, not only describing the junkie issue in Canada, but throughout the Western world. Thomas Toye Paisley, Scotland - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine