How is capitalism to blame? The laws against collecting rainwater (which I partially disagree with) are there to keep streams and rivers flowing. The homeless feeding law (which is more good intention gone bad) is designed to get the homeless into shelters and off the streets. NY governor outlawed homeless living in streets with an executive order last winter. This made it legal for police to force homeless into shelters and off the street, the result was hundreds of them in jail for minor offenses.
Okay, so before you lose faith in humanity, let's take a look at the source. No one made a law saying "no feeding the homeless". The ordinance is for "outdoor food distribution centers" and basically says that if you're serving food outside, you need to provide restroom facilities, garbage cans, and a place for people to wash their hands. These all seem like perfectly reasonable things that most anyone here would agree make sense.
Should there be an exception for an old man feeding the homeless? Probably. And they did address the problem by stopping the enforcement of the ordinance as soon as the issue was discovered.
As a community we have disconnected making it easier for thise in power to do as they please. The grip only gets tighter. Lets see how much abuse the people will take before they come together and actually do something about it.
If you want to serve food to the public, you need to have a certain level of cleanliness. For example, our church had a kitchen with wood counters, and before we could use that kitchen to prepare hot lunches for the school, the counters had to be changed to stainless steel. There were other changes as well.
So, the first reaction to the "guy arrested for feeding the homeless" headline is that it's over-regulation (or if you're really stupid, "capitalism's fault). But what are we supposed to do...ignore the laws when someone has good intentions? Not have food safety laws?
Should there be an exception for an old man feeding the homeless? Probably. And they did address the problem by stopping the enforcement of the ordinance as soon as the issue was discovered.
People aren't generally bad, just misunderstood.
http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/home/showdocument?id=6404
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, City Ordinance C-14-42
Section 1C, Subsection 2c
Page 6
So, the first reaction to the "guy arrested for feeding the homeless" headline is that it's over-regulation (or if you're really stupid, "capitalism's fault). But what are we supposed to do...ignore the laws when someone has good intentions? Not have food safety laws?