[Jim Sims]

I wouldn't judge until you've "Walked the Streets of Bakersfield". I always become a pedestrian for the morning when I take my BMW 325i to the dealership for it's free service or other warranty work. On foot you see and experience another world and automatically become a suspicious character in the eyes of the mechanized and the police. Many of the homeless (my estimate is over 50%) are mentally ill from either genetic or drug induced origins. There was a movement years back to empty the mental institutions of these people; they were supposed to go into halfway houses and other assisted living facilities. These facilities were never built or staffed because of the reduced government and "all taxes are bad" movements. Now the misery of these people defaces our cities and towns and stains our national character. You get what you pay for. We won't be able to keep them out of our gated communities forever.

On an even more personal level I always try and remember and follow the Native American Navajo culture's disdain of having too many things that are too nice or fancy. They usually mean the owner is not taking very good care of his family.

May you find peace in your souls.