This is yet another article on Measure S, to show how the homeless and mentally handicapped are being scapegoated, and how "'fixing' the problem" entails more than just "shoo[ing]" it from your (businesses) front doors.

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This article is being written because the election is tomorrow and I would like to reiterate how abhorrent and (purposefully) misinformed the voters may be where this measure is concerned.  There has been much scare tactics involved in this subject. 

The wording from the proponents of Measure S is the most disturbing of all.  Their words are in the title.  The full quote is, "As in many cities, mentally ill, addicted, homeless and other people gather in Berkeley's streets and parks"; that is an exact quote dissected from the proponent's argument for why people should vote yes on the measure.  And that (hateful wording) will be their undoing, I hope.  That is their bigotry, in full view.  It is what is known as a "Freudian Slip."  I mean, if you add it up, they slander the entire population of Berkeley, except for them, of course.

This is their game; this is their philosophy; this is their mentality.

As I arrived at Peet's Coffee this morning, for my morning tea (only I got coffee this morning), I noticed a mentally and physically handicapped man; he is an elderly man, in his sixties, at least.  He is unable to take care of himself, either.  I call him "Shufflin' Off To Buffalo."  I do not know his name, obviously, but have coined him that name out of the fact that he shuffles as he walks.  He has on a pair of old white socks that haven't seen white in quite some time, and there is one (nasty, corn-chip-looking) toe and toenail hanging out of the hole in his right-stocking foot.  He wore hospital scrubs, probably from John George, the hospital that seems to keep dumping patients in Berkeley, to save money, allegedly. 

As I approached the coffee shop this morning, I noticed this man... someone's dad (maybe)... someone's son (most likely)... someone's grandfather (maybe)... was lying on the ground, on cardboard, in front of the west-facing window of Peet's.  The store was open for business.  I informed Shufflin' of this fact, but he told me that he knew the store was open, and to "mind yo business!"  Shufflin' is an ornery sort of fellow.  Every time I try and help him he pretty much takes my head off, but I have to help him, regardless.  Nobody else is doing it!  In fact, someone gave me some cigarettes the other day, and I do not smoke [cigarettes].  So, Shufflin' was there, and he wanted one, for a quarter.  I told him to "keep the quarter."  But then realized I could use it, because I wanted something to eat that morning, and that would be the tax money I was lacking.  So I decided to get the quarter from ole Shufflin'... but he wasn't having any of it. 

He told me, "Give me another one, then I give you the quarter."

Now, first off, it's hard to hear what Shufflin' is saying.  He sounds like Hunter S. Thompson and Keith Richards, with marbles in their mouths, as they try and sing a rendition of the Slayer's "Hell Awaits," under water... so it's sometimes difficult to make out what he is trying to scream at me.

I was so flabbergasted by the balls on this Cat that I gave it (cigarette) to him!

The fact that this elderly man is shufflin' around town, lying in front of businesses, urinating and defecating on himself is not his fault (entirely).  Sure, he may have done that to himself... his debilitation, I don't know, I don't care.  What I do know, though, is, we need to take care of this stuff, and quite scapegoating it, because it's unhealthy and it's sad to watch on a daily basis.  If you want your kids to get sick, go ahead, do not take care of this stuff.  It's irresponsible to ignore this sort of thing and then try and sweep it under the rug when you are tired of dealing with it. 

We cannot continue to blame the symptom as though it were the cause, and then get angry because that symptom is floating around your store front, reminding you of your failure; your failure to deal with the problem when you (all) had the money, but chose to ignore it, until it hit you in your face, and your (false) depression.

First off, California is in a false depression, so the reason (or excuse, rather) of, "We don't have the money!" is not going to fly anymore.

Here are some (real) statistics for you:

"The Money is Here!

-California is home to 53 of the country's largest corporations.  Their total profits in 2012 so far are $169 billion.

-California is home to 88 billionaires with a total wealth in 2012 of $322 billion.

-Who is paying the taxes?  62.5% of California's Revenue comes from our Personal Income Tax (9.9% increase from last year), while only 9.8% comes from Corporate taxes (1.4% decrease)."

From the same source:

"We are told that we have to accept these massive cuts to what we need most - jobs, healthcare, education, retirement, libraries, and parks.  We are told that there are just no other options, that we have to make sacrifices, tighten our belts, tax ourselves more because of the budget deficit.  However this is an artificial deficit, a result of the priorities of those who run this society and put the profits of banks and corporations ahead of our needs.  California is the 9th largest economy in the world, there is plenty of money here."

I paid one dollar for this information, which has is chock full of source links of the aforementioned statistics.  You can receive this information at Berkeley City College or you can find out more about it with an email to: Email address removed .

Ignoring and scapegoating (the problem) has not worked, and neither will Measure S.  This measure is not designed to fix anything.  This measure is to "get rid of" what the bourgeois do not wish to see, their very own failures shufflin' around the front doors of their businesses.

There is metaphor and situations which are analogous to all these situations, and I observe them, daily.

This morning, I watched as a man (Shufflin') tried sleeping, with his scrubs falling off him, exposing his ass crack, when nobody even called for a plumber.  His shirt was also exposing the four-inch-wide scar that was running parallel Shufflin's spine.  The proponents of Measure S would have you believe Shufflin' is the problem here.  The Downtown [Berkeley] Business Association (DBA), Block By Block (SMS Holdings), and the city would all have you believe that this guy is at fault.  They would have you believe the reason his is this way and the reason he continues to shuffle around the downtown area is entirely his fault and no fault (or blame) should be levied on those who have ignored the problem until is bit them.

I have to call bullshit on this.

Anyway, so I put my stuff down next to Shufflin', as that is where I sit my gear, every morning.  I am not worried about Shufflin' giving me something I do not want, like scabies... even though, maybe, I should? -- I do not.

I head into Peet's and head into the bathroom, as I needed to "unload a truck."

As I sat there, thinking of porcelain dreams, I could hear the toilet running.  I'm not plumber, but the sound of a running toilet tells me that if not fixed, there will be seal problems in the future.  So after I deposit my morning's payload, I decided to examine the toilet's interior, as I may just be able to stop the constant running of water sure to give this toilet future problems.  Before I checked, though, I thought to myself, "There are three types (at least) of people in this world:

1. Those who see (or hear) a problem and attempt to fix it, and do not stop until the problem is fixed.

2. Those who see (or hear) a problem and choose to ignore it, outright or hope it just goes away.

3. Those who see (or hear) a problem and tell someone else about it, so they can fix it.

I fit into the category of number 1.  The people who fall into category 2 annoy the crap out of me and are the same folks who are doing the "get rid of," not too coincidentally enough.  I can handle category 3, as at least those folks are trying to fix the problem, even if they cannot help, personally.

And, even as analogous or metaphorical situations occur, there can also be other situations that arise from something that just adds to the story; situations that you cannot come up with on your own; situations that can only be true, because anything I try to come up with fictionally does not compare; situations like this one: as I examine the new-age-type toilets' bowels, I noticed a pointy, cylindrical reminder of this very fact.

There was a hypodermic needle (with the orange cap fastened) floating in the space between the guts of the toilet and the front-end of the porcelain itself.  Nice.  Awesome!  The toilet needed "fixing," but this wasn't the sort of fixing I was thinking about.  So funny.  A rig, floating in this (broken) toilet... someone's "fix," adding to the drama and allegory therein.

Fixing the problem is never an easy process.  In order for the problem to be fixed, there has to be a willingness to actually fix it, though.  From our "elected" officials to those in the business community, everyone seems just fine and dandy with the idea of "shoo[ing]" the problem out of their immediate view.  It appears "N.I.M.B.Y." has a new (acronym) name, and it's got a few friends, too: D.B.A. (Downtown [Berkeley] Business Association) and P.C.E.I. (Public Commons for Everyone Initiative). 

Yeah, again... "Everyone" except the "mentally ill, addicted, homeless and 'other people.'"

Fix it, don't "shoo" it, because it is not going anywhere.  Unwillingness to accept responsibility for the problem is why we are all in this mess, folks.  Mentally handicapped folks, like "Shufflin'," are the symptom of the disease, not the root cause.  The root cause would be criminal, though, if not for the slick-side-stepping, where laws (and ordinances) are currently moved around (like a moving of the goalposts, while the game is being played), so the Fascists are not in violation of ones' civil rights.

Vote [HELL] No! on this heinous, bigoted, ignorant Measure (S)!

-James Richard Armstrong II

Authors Bio:
I'm a homeless student, writer, and activist... currently panhandling my way through school (and life.).