I recently signed a petition to "Remove Selfish Yuppies" from Vancouver. (Article) This petition was in response to a petition to close two homeless shelters in the weathier parts of downtown Vancouver.
The following quotes are taken verbatim from the comments on the original petition. Some of them are breathtaking.
The "I just don't get it" contingent:
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"[We should close this shelter because] The homeless problem is not solved, but merely moved from one location to another.”
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"[We should close this shelter because] homeless broke [into my building] at night, and were many found sleeping in the lobby."
The "I'm too rich to have to look at 'these people'" contingent:
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"I pay a premium to live in downtown Vancouver. Why should these people get to live in this specific area for free?"
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"Help the people who can't help themselves, absolutely. But there's no need to do it in the most expensive neighbourhoods."
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"This facility is a terrible idea [in] our "high end" neighborhood that we pay a premium to live in."
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"I'm signing because its a privilege to live in this area. Take it to the east side."
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"These types of facilities don't belong here"
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"I pay high taxes to live in a safe place."
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"I pay high taxes and we work hard. We deserve better than this."
The "What's wrong with ghettos" contingent:
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"Why not set up shelters in less densely populated areas with the stipulation that welfare checks cannot be collected unless recipients move to those areas?"
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"homeless people should be confined into 1 area and there is already east hastings"