Despite having many seemingly progressive views, many people who identify as liberal still support laws that make it illegal for the unhoused to exist in public spaces. The Onion asked liberals why they believe homelessness should be criminalized, and this is what they said.
“I won’t feel guilty about not volunteering at soup kitchens if they cease to exist.”
“Letting them take naps in public would only enable their addiction to sleep.”
“A $75 fine for sitting down is exactly the catalyst some people need to break the cycle of homelessness.”
“I heard on NPR that it actually costs more to incarcerate someone than it would to give them affordable housing. But then Fresh Air started, and I let all the bad feelings melt away.”
“I don’t care what you do with them, but please, call them the unhoused.”
“Is my name being used, or is this anonymous? Because you’re going to get two very different answers.”
“I love camping as much as the next guy, but these people are taking it too far.”
“Well, people get upset if you use the word ‘genocide.’”
“I’m not singling out the homeless. I wish there was a targeted way to criminalize just being in my space.”
“It’s not that hard to secure a place to sleep. My home has at least eight bedrooms that I don’t even use.”
“I bet some of those vets are Trump guys.”
“Tents should only be used to take ayahuasca as part of a weeklong spiritual retreat.”
“If I can overcome my student loans from my time at Vassar, no one has any excuse for being homeless.”
“Not one homeless person joined me in canvassing for Elizabeth Warren.”
“We can’t have prison reform if there isn’t anyone in prison.”
“The cruelty of prisons is just easier to ignore.”
“I’m committed to fighting for social justice up until the point that it threatens my property values.”
“I’m fiscally liberal and socially a monster.”