Hmm…

Washington (AP) The first national estimate in a decade finds there were 744-thousand homeless people in the United States in 2005. More than half were living in shelters. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, about 41 percent were families.

Studies like these are all well and good, but the real number we should be concerned about is the number of homeless living on the street through no actions of their own.  What I mean is, how many of that 744,000 number are homeless because they’ve chosen to abuse substances like crack, heroin or alcohol?  Or have chosen to not invest the proper amount of effort into making themselves presentable and dedicated enough to hold down a job?  Because to me people like that aren’t worthy of our sympathies or tax dollars.

People like that can rot on the street for all I care.  Which may sound cold, but I don’t see why my tax dollars that could be going to my own daughter’s welfare and education should be going to people who chosen to destroy their own lives.