On The Third Hand

Since President Bush floated an idea that former military bases could be used as locations for increaseing the number of oil refineries I have been waiting. First for the announcement of the next round of base closures, that came on 13 May. Then for various and sundry “advocates” and “activists” to lay claim on the abandoned land.

As sure as the sun rising in the East and Howard Dean uttering something stupid every 24 hour news cycle the first claim has been layed. One hundred and forty three years after the first American Homestead Act the homeless “advocates” attempt a 21^st century version.

The next batch of surplus military base property should be available by the end of the year, said Rebecca Troth, Legal Director at the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP).

The so-called “surplus property” is free for homeless advocates, though a group that successfully applies to use an old base or part of an old base may be responsible for infrastructure development costs.

Old military bases, said Michael Stoops, acting Executive Director of the Washington, DC-based National Coalition for the Homeless, are desirous because “they’re self-contained, they have all the facilities.” Additionally, he said, “most military bases are close to major cities,” making them easier to reach from areas hit hard by urban poverty.

In a self admission of ignorance, the article points out the 1994 Base Closure Act places homeless providers at the head of the line for use of retired federal properties. (much more on base closure and previous Congressional actions here)

To which I say, so what! The homeless and their “advocates” should have never been given priority over the local communities who have lost jobs and income by loss of a military base.

I’d bet the farm the citizens of Charleston, S.C, if given the choice, over homeless shelters and renewed economic interests for the former Navy base there they wouldn’t have opened any soup kitchens. To their credit they made the correct choice ten years ago. The same can be said for Massachusetts, with Georgia and California following the same model. The Pascagoula MS. Naval base is targeted in this round of closings but local officials aren’t ringing the phones at NCL or NLCHP looking for help setting up shelters, they have a better plan based on economic sense not politically correct BS put forth by national advocacy organizations.

I have a suggestion for Rebecca Troth, Legal Director at the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. The current base closure list and all previous closures were and are based on saving the Federal Government tax dollars. A worthy endeavor most would agree. My suggestion is based on the NLCHP being a tax exampt organization and all donations made to it are tax exempt.

Shut down NLCHP and round up all your precious homeless - most of whom are itinerate by choice - pay them minimum wage, set them up on the Southern border and stop the flow of illegals flooding into the US.

End result; One less group of PC nanny state loonbats, a larger Federal tax base, and a safer place to live for 230 plus million Americans (need I mention less businesses with doorways that smell of urine?).

PS: Ms. Troth don’t come crying to me if you discover only a very small percentage of those offered these jobs fail to show or run the opposite direction. They have chosen not participate in society, not to work and will laugh in your face.

Cross posted within the Cranial Cavity