I have worked in social services. Yes, it is ugly and discouraging. I, myself, was an abandoned child in foster care, born to a single mother enslaved by alcoholism. My foster parents were the sort that look virtuous and benevolent but they were abusive and bigoted.

Years of teaching has taught me that helping others with patience, boundaries and forgiveness increases the odds of a positive return rather than diminishing it. Respect has to be given first so one can recognize and return it.

It isn’t a walk in the park but it is a necessary journey. It is neglect and abuse that creates these people and neglect and abuse will not cure our problem with them or each other. The outcome really does depend on the input.

Unfortunately, time is necessary to prove theories and experience is necessary to understand results. My daughter participated in a Yale psychology study as an infant and it took thirty years to publish their findings. You can learn about their findings in the documentary, ‘Babies’ on Netflix. It is really fascinating. I wish I knew the things they learned while she was still a child but that is the paradox of education and experience.

Being mentally ill is not a character flaw and in those under the perpetual cruelty of poverty will resort to self medicating or immediate material gratification. Money management is difficult for even the competent and in the wealthy it is forgiven more readily.

Society’s fundamental responsibility to itself is to manufacture happy, healthy people. It is wisdom to educate, clothe and house one’s fellow man. After all, what is the use of government or an army’s might to protect goods above people. People make things better with incentive of purpose and self worth.

If the social system is failing, abandonment of its most vulnerable citizens will only increase society’s burdens, not eliminate it. Empathy is a great investment, even if only to avoid creating the self fulfilling prophecy of creating ‘bad’ people.

If people treated others as equals in the first place, there wouldn’t be a need for a competition for such a paltry sum.

Nothing is ever useless to resourceful people.

Journalists also have a bad habit of oversimplifying things for the layman. One would have to be a part of the process to completely understand their criteria.

Your story is not every person’s story. I’m glad you achieved personal success. Many haven’t the perspective or self respect to know how to change for the better and some cannot regain the power of choosing their destiny without help.

It’s a pilot program to prevent them from starving to death or reoffending while they try to re-enter society. A bit of kindness can go a long way. It must be almost impossible to restart your life after getting out of prison.

Well said. Thanks for adding context and resources. As Mr. Rogers said, look for the helpers. It’s nice to know you are here to help.

The formula for fascism begins with the singular desire to micromanage the world by any means possible. Stereotyping and labeling, fueled by contempt. What impels us to do this is fear. Fear of otherness. Losing ground. Paranoia. Language. You don’t need money, culture, religion or a certain education to be a fascist, just xenophobia.

It’s important to fight terrorism, censorship and violence, we must condemn hatred whenever see it, thus I speak to you. However, I urge you to resist wholesale contempt because then it won’t matter what you call yourself or what your goals are, you will become like them and the outcome will be the same. The methods make the results and the results are what matter most.

It’s time for more education and less complacency.

If someone you know talks ‘racism light’ - you know them- the “I’m just saying” or ‘telling it like it is’ people, shut them down. You know who they are at parties, at church, in your family. The time for tolerating bullies is over.

I effing love Yale and Yalies. They contribute to culture, civilization and the economy, making New Haven an interesting, diverse city in a state that values education for everyone with choices for every type of education. I know it’s an elitist school but the contributions of Yale benefit the world in a meaningful way and I am proud of that every time I hear something positive in the news.

Well, if you want luxe, Crepes Choupette is different and they have the best effin espresso in Connecticut. I could mainline that stuff- even without milk and sugar. They have both healthy and indulgent food. Warning: not the fastest service although it is a nice atmosphere.

Poke Moto is a fave of mine. Make your own or use their menu choices, you can’t go wrong.

Thanks for the recommendation. I miss Thali Too.

Whalley is a free-for-all with guilty parties behind the wheel and on the streets. I have seen double parking, u-turns, jay walking (being obtuse or aggressively slow), turning without indicating, people jumping the light, ignoring the light, turning tight to cross right of way traffic, weaving in and out and busses jumping in and out of traffic with wide turns and very little notice.

Pedestrian footbridges and contiguous ‘islands’ would be game changers. Better stoplight flow would improve business. Banning on street parking and providing off street parking would save lives.

I’ve often thought about the constituents of equisetum and the properties of graphene and the possibility of a living glass battery.

New Morning in Woodbury. They are pretty accommodating.

Yeah, nice try. Like federal funds used in 2011 had anything to do with Lamont or the pandemic.

As Hobbits know, a quiet life is priceless.

I will never forget Chris Murphy’s weekly Twitter chats and newsletters during the pandemic. He is a compassionate person with a great sense of humor. He really goes the extra mile to help people and he isn’t afraid to be himself.

Joe Lieberman was duplicitous, self centered politician.

Having seen the devastation, I can hardly fathom the titanic effort that brought this wonderful accomplishment. I am so happy for them.

Terrain has pretty awesome food. Sometimes hard to get a seat so reserve one if you go on the weekend.

That isn’t what I mean. I’ve driven across the country in an RV and Connecticut seems a Gordian knot of highways along the coastline. I’ve never had an accident myself. I know my limits and respect them.

Night driving is another issue with some people. People driving too fast or too slow. Blocking the passing lane. Ridiculously bright headlights. People texting while driving. This selfish guy driving hundreds of miles without a break. Bad driving is endemic in Connecticut.

People constantly use ageism to punish people with blanket laws. Look at the GOP starting up with raising voting ages. It works both ways. Someday you might be defending your right for autonomy against something you cannot alter. Don’t punish everyone for an irresponsible person’s foolish decision. You may not agree with my opinion but I’m not trying to humiliate anyone with it.

All this going on about his age - Connecticut has very confusing markers, sometimes seated right next to each other. The new round about in New Haven is a nightmare of signs and ramps.

Money makes people productive and benefits make them happy. No agency with fancy equipment needed.

It’s patently unethical to invade the privacy of someone’s brain to manipulate them into complacency.

IMO, to order or emotionally blackmail someone to acquiesce to any mind alteration to benefit from the use of their body is rape, full stop.