John A. Weeks III wrote:

In article ,
Dave in San Diego wrote:



"John A. Weeks III" wrote in
:



In article et,
"D" wrote:



I just read in Defense News that the carrier USS America is going to
be sunk in tests off the East Coast of the US. They will detonate
various explosives aboard her to determine how much damage she takes.


This is a travesty. They should tie up this ship next to some
major city, and use it for housing homeless people. An aircraft
carrier can hold 5000 or more people when sailing, so it should
be no big deal to house 1000 homeless people, plus have deck
space for another 500 tents. After all, the ship has all the
living facilities like bunks, state rooms, plumbing, bathing,
kitchens, cafeterias, etc. It is a shame to let such a valuable
resource be destroyed like this.


Who pays for the conversions to meet basic fire codes? Who pays for the
required environmental cleanup? Who pays to staff it? Who pays for the
continued maintenance?



Who pays for everything else in America? Government and faith-based
charities.



The USS Midway is currently docked at Navy Pier here in San Diego. It
required the expenditure of well over a million dollars to get it to its
present condition, and would require a lot more to get to a condition
where what you are proposing would be feasible.



That cost is a drop in the bucket compared with the war in Iraq.
It is also small compared to the crime and vandalism that currently
happens to and due to people being homeless.



I fear that such a project would quickly turn into a floating Cabrini
Green, for similar reasons, the foremost of which is lack of "pride of
ownership", somebody else's property, someone else's problems.



So, you are in favor of letting homeless people freeze to death
sleeping under freeway overpasses and in rail yards in the harsh
cold winter climates in the northern lattitudes?

-john-



Well instead of letting them freeze, we'll drive them to your place. 5
Pm Ok with you???