[semantic]

All of the major public health initiatives, both here and in the UK (and the rest of Europe), were not undertaken primarily out of concern for the downtrodden. Rather, they were eventually accepted - and financed - by those who initially felt they didn't have any collective responsibility for the great masses of people.

It's only when communicable diseases, whether air or water born, created environments for large scale pandemics that kept hitting in waves during the 1800s. Then, and only then, did government move to act in order to protect the upper & middle classes as a means of self-preservation.

The same type of sentiment and rationalization with respect to institutionalizing the homeless will eventually occur during our time period as well. Every generation has to (re)learn the same age old lessons that have already occurred decades/centuries before. Crime, disease, complete moral breakdown - when the time comes, the proglibs will be leading the charge.

[Pelham]

well said