This vagrant deviancy that plagues our local communities in the golden state of California has been said by some to be compared to that of issues not seen since the Medieval ages of Europe. In particular we are talking about the period between 450-1100 A.D. It’s one reason medieval diseases are running rampant throughout California's homeless population.[1] It’s a pretty sobering event that is taking place right now and not much is being done to tackle the issue. Of course there has been a lot of speculation, but not much that has actually been done. This is happening for many reasons. Many claim a bad economy. Some claim their own criminal behaviors. To be fair, some homeless people are just in a down outright bad situation. What is even worse though—is the enabling of the state and local governments in allowing this to happen in the first place.

California in playing “nanny”—has done some enabling of their own and the results have not been good. Since Sacramento pulled the plug on mental health, and has willingly invited transiency, our social issues have skyrocketed here at home. To make matters worse, local governments under the state have also willingly rolled out the welcome mat for illegal migrants. They did this by issuing driver licenses. They also issued cash assistance, EBT food cards, and housing allowances.[2] Further, local cities have allowed homeless encampments to thrive. The problem with all of this is not just about “convenience” or “middle-class love for a beautiful town.” It’s about safety, security, peace of mind, liberty, and success for tax paying and law abiding citizens. How can any of this be achieved when the enabling nanny-state of California has relaxed their social policies and ties the hands of local law enforcement?

There are serious health and crime implications that come along with vagrancy. Especially state-enabled homelessness. There are deviancy issues within the homeless population; including abusive drug and alcohol use, thefts, sex crimes, violent crimes, and homicides. A good example of the seriousness of this problem would be in today’s Humboldt County.[3] This does not stay confined within their local communities however; as some politicians might believe or hope. This behavior and crime (which cannot logistically be contained) ultimately bleeds out into the local community’s businesses and neighborhoods surrounding these homeless encampments.

The significance of this crisis to the people and businesses residing in our cities is enormous. It is certainly a moral and ethical issue. It costs honest taxpayers a good chunk of their hard earned money. So the question really is this: If the state government is enabling rapid homelessness and transiency to thrive in our communities, who then is to take charge over containing the issue? What can be done about containing, and even solving the epidemic? With the California judicial system being recognized by citizens daily for its ridiculous corruptions and seemingly nailed in aristocracy—what can be done to solve the problem?

This truly is a complex problem to tackle, but one that is doable. It also needs to be done in a slow methodical process, so it does not rush the homeless into unwarranted logistical circumstances. Administrative errors, like being placed in a hospital when they just need clinic, or further wasteful spending of taxpayer money. It’s a heavy dose of reality considering that in 2016 over 22% of the entire nations homeless population resided on the streets of California.[4] And sadly it’s only gotten worse since then. Regardless of how it is handled, the best step first and foremost is separating the “honest” homeless, from the “dishonest.” This is not a wholly guaranteed correction, but there are certainly grounds to make social determinations in discerning this type of character per individual and their needs.

What we can absolutely do is participate in local, state, and national politics. By reading policies, researching, learning, and applying a vote--you make your voice heard. In the case of property violations, like theft,  your right to defend your private property by U.S. Constitutional amendment is appropriate. Of course, violent force is only justifiable in the self-defense of your life, or another persons life. Enough force needed to restrain the criminal until local law enforcement responds should be the only response when dealing with property theft. What about public displays of moral indecency, drug use and alcohol use?

It's important to remember that in America, we are afforded the liberties to live out our daily lives in peace. This means, even the person who is deliberately drunk and wandering lost on the streets gets that same liberty. This also means that we who do choose to go out into the public venue, needs to navigate these circumstantial situations as they come. Remember that self-defense, and the right to uphold morality in regards to your own family, and to always protect their security is the most important priority. Regardless of our positions in life, we all have an important part to play in our own local communities.

Be pro-active with the authority granted to you by Him.​

Humbly,
​
Daniel L. Smith
ComplexAmerica.org


Sources:

[1] Davis, Jack. "Medieval Diseases Running Rampant Throughout California's Homeless Population." The Western Journal. Last modified March 11, 2019. https://www.westernjournal.com/medieval-diseases-running-rampant-throughout-californias-homeless-population/.
[2] "CDSS Programs > Cash Assistance for Immigrants." California State Department of Social Services. Accessed September 12, 2019. https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/Cash-Assistance-for-Immigrants.
[3] "Humboldt County Has State's 2nd-highest Homicide Rate." Daily Democrat. Last modified July 15, 2019. https://www.dailydemocrat.com/2019/07/15/humboldt-county-has-states-2nd-highest-homicide-rate-why/.
[4] "HCD Policy: People Dealing With Homelessness." California Department of Housing and Community Development. Accessed September 12, 2019. http://hcd.ca.gov/policy-research/specific-policy-areas/homelessness.shtml.

We have all been there on any given day. Sitting at the dinner table with the family, sharing an absolutely wonderful and satisfying meal. You are laughing off your sister’s joke, when suddenly your not-so-favorite Uncle chimes in with his opinion on a just recently proposed domestic policy that is set to affect a lot of people. This got your dad’s attention, but much to your uncle’s surprise, he is told to leave the “politics and religion” discussion at the doorstep by your mother. This example is a typical conversation that has mirrored American household’s across the nation. This is also a typical split-reaction comment to such a common conversation.

So where did this typical table-top reaction come from? Gary S. Cross, a distinguished professor of modern history at Pennsylvania State University and the author of many social-science books; wrote that it was pushed in the 1950’s by parents who no longer passed their formula for success onto their offspring.[1] Instead of fostering “strength of character,” liberal parents in the 1950’s had allowed “no spark of their children’s curiosity” to go untended.[2] On one side of the coin, you have solid foundational principles being taught for the entirety of life’s journey. Whereas on the other side of the coin, it would seem that you have certain families emphasizing living in a foundational fantasy world. The general social effects from this last type of family guidance is evident primarily among the children of the 1960’s.

This type of coddling produced a mentality of “premature sexuality, drug obsession, unfocused education, and unpreparedness” for the real world. The problem not being so much as the lure of consumption, but the lack of being willing to give up individual instant-gratifications, and contain these desires within the boundaries of home and family.[3] This whole liberally based concept of “doing life” has enabled some extreme social behaviors as seen recently in our regional communities. This loose ideology is also influencing what is even being accepted today as “completely normal” in American daily society.

So how does Christianity and politics tie into this topic? We need to first learn, understand, and accept; that Jesus Christ first taught of internal law interpreted by the spirit, as well as principles for external liberty as documented all throughout the New Testament. It’s well documented that the apostles resisted tyranny by different forms of legal protest and civil action (Acts 13, 16, 24, 25, 26). Christianity is so tied into politics that even the apostle Paul rebuked the Christians in Greece for their apathy and irresponsibility in regards to politics that allowed non-Christians to be in control (1 Corinthians 6:2-5). He urged them to seek public office such as in the local court system of Corinth.

When the Christians found it difficult to make inroads in the Roman legal system, they began to form their own alternative courts. These judgments were binding only upon those who voluntarily accepted the outcome by covenant agreement. Over time the pagans (non-Christians) began to reject the arbitrary Roman legal system and began to seek real justice through the Christian courts. By the time of Constantine around 300 A.D., half of the empire’s population had been converted to Christianity and consequently were involved in the “Christian” legal court system. Thus, when Constantine made Christianity the official established religion of the empire, the Christian judges were required to wear the official dark robe, or gown, worn by all civil magistrates (as seen today). Most judges of the times were clergymen.

The “pulpit gown” is therefore a testimony and memorial of the primitive churches being involved in politics.[4] So when somebody mentions that politics and religion should be kept separated from daily life, they should be rebuked. Because as Christians, we are instructed by Him to be good stewards within all things that we do in life, and to occupy ourselves in our lives until His return. This too includes politics and religion. Both of these heatedly debatable topics have been deeply rooted into our society and governments since the beginning of time.

You cannot separate it, just as it can not ever be completely silenced. The fact of the matter is this: Religion and politics are so intertwined in society and government, that it would be simply impossible to usurp without physically eliminating an entire states people and replacing it with something completely new. And even then, some form of religion is still involved. Secularism is probably the least most tolerant religion of them all! It is important to remember that without community involvement, there would no church body. And without a church body, there certainly wouldn’t be the community involvement that we see today.

Government dictates the rules (laws) that we as citizens in our communities have to follow while living out our daily lives. Lastly, it is important to remember that as Christians, it is imperative that community involvement always details politics and religion at the dinner table. Without proper family guidance and education, there is no proper community involvement for this way of thinking to bleed into. Without a properly informed community, there will never be a properly informed state. This of course finally snowballs into a national problem! In an ironic twist; this is one problem that can finally be solved at the dinner table!



- Daniel L. Smith
ComplexAmerica.Org




Sources:

[1] Cross, Gary S. An All-consuming Century: Why Commercialism Won in Modern America. New York: Columbia University Press, 2000.
[2] Decter, Midge. Liberal Parents, Radical Children (New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1975). pp. 32, 42, 47.
[3] Ibid. pp. 63, 141, 142.
[4] Beliles, Mark A., and Stephen K. McDowell. "The Chain of Liberty: Development." In America's Providential History, 3rd ed. Charlottesville: Providence Foundation, 2010. pp. 37-38.