Two more reasons to burn down my house, collect the insurance money and move away.

I'm on "ground Zero" when it comes to free health care abuse. I still can't figure out how people do it, but there are an awful lot of people with "free" medical care here in Providence. What kills me is that nobody bothered to explain the the recipients of our generosity just how fortunate they are. Calling a rescue for a half mile ride to the hospital for a stomach ache, fever, stubbed toe...I could go on but I'm making myself sick. Maybe I'll call 911.

Nice editorial, Justin.

There's no apathy. People and businesses are voting with their feet. In 20 years, the metro Providence area will be another Gary, Newark, Detroit or Camden.
Already boarded up houses in Providence for the first time in 2 decades.

Michael, nobody's getting free health insurance, like Salty used to say: "nooooobody!" Someones paying for it and that be me, and perhaps you?

First step is get rid of all the losers!

Yesterday morning some drunk fell flat on his face at a RIPTA bus stop. 7 AM! Just think of the cost of having this loser in our state. What did it cost Cranston FD and PD to respond. What did the delays cost RIPTA. What was the cost of the delay to the 5% of the riders who were actually heading to do something productive. (The other 95%, not yet "falling-down" drunk, were only headed somewhere looking for a hand-out). What was the cost of his emergency room treatment? By 9 am, this loser had probably sucked 20 grand out of the ecomomy. The first step in the right direction is to stop making this state so attractive to losers AND make it attractive to productive, law-abiding citizens who speak english. People who contribute!

These people don't need "assistance", they take advantage of it. "Assistance" only perpetuates their condition. They need tough love. No assistance, no shelters, no hand outs! They'll either get it together or move somewhere else!

I really do feel bad for these people because I see first hand every morning how the "system" is doing absolutely nothing to improve their condition.

On an average day in Providence on Rescue 1 I take five intoxicated males to the hospital ER for "detox." There are six rescues in Providence. Sometimes every rescue has an intoxicated person getting a free ride. All this while tax paying, law abiding citizens wait for help from Warwick, Cranston, Lincoln, Cumberland, Coventry, Seekonk.... Every day. Day after day. Taxpayers in those towns wait longer for help because the rescues their tax dollars are paying for are tied up in Providence on mutual aid.

The amazing thing is that, while everyone can see that the most efficient and cost-effective solution to the entire problem would be for George to be able to just shoot that drunk through the head on the spot (not to mention the other 95% of the losers on the bus headed into town for a handout), nobody will let him do it! Damn liberals!

Come off it, Thomas. I might as well fling some sarcasm about liberals' hidden desire to kill entrepreneurs and take their money.

There's a valid point in what George is saying. If you don't get it, ask for clarification; if you disagree with it, explain.

Ok, Ok, Justin. I got carried away. My apologies.

Fact is, I figured George was yanking our collective chain. I take the bus nearly daily...in Providence no less... and "95% looking for handouts" sounded just far too outlandish to be serious. I assumed he was a liberal Troll, trying to provoke people into saying something stupid so I jumped right in to give him what he wanted.

I guess I was mistaken, and he really was serious.

Surely, nobody here has seriously suggested that liberals want to kill entrepreneurs and take their money?

I promise to stop now :)

ride the number 22 any time between 5:30 AM and 7:15 AM between the ACI and Rolfe Square. you'll see...95% is not a stretch.

and, by the way: I don't advocate killing them. They're already doing that to themselves. I'm just saying liberal policies have done nothing to improve the way they're living. They'll need to find the spirit within themselves or they're going to die anyway. There are places to get help for addiction that are free, and a lot more successful than any goverment program. Cut off the "assistance" and I guarrantee you, they'll get help, or they'll get out...both good for the rest of us.