Hawaii Lawmaker Says Violence is the Answer to the Homeless Problem

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

A veteran Hawaii lawmaker believes he's come up with the perfect solution to deal with his state's rampant homelessness problem: Hassle homeless people and destroy their stuff with a sledgehammer.

And, the one time a politician would be better off being just talk, Tom Brower isn't.

Over the last two weeks, the five-term Democratic state representative has taken his trusty sledgehammer to some 30 shopping carts being used by homeless people around Waikiki to transport their meager possessions.

Brower swears he takes all belongings out of the cart before smashing it to bits, and insists he hasn't smashed shopping carts that were being pushed by homeless people, but tells Hawaii News Now "that may be coming."

"I got tired of telling people I'm trying to pass laws. I want to do something practical that will really clean up the streets," Brower told the news station.

Though Brower calls his "beautification campaign" a "good thing," Mental Health America of Hawaii executive director Marya Grambs respectfully disagrees.

"His message to the public is that it's okay to commit acts of violence against homeless people, against vulnerable people," she said.

Institute of Human Services executive director Connie Mitchell concurs, and thinks Brower's violent acts may make matters much worse for homeless people who are on the streets due to a past trauma.

"To see someone with a sledgehammer sometimes can be re-traumatizing for a lot of people," Mitchell said.

In fact, one homeless person who spoke with Hawaii News Now said seeing Brower "banging on stuff like that" was "very scary for me."

Brower, who is also encouraging residents to hassle homeless people they see sleeping at bus stops — "I’ll walk up and say, ‘Get your ass moving’" — admits he's not "100 percent comfortable" with the sledgehammer approach, but is proud of it just the same.

"I think it's good that I'm taking these actions because it brings the discussion out," he told KITV. "And if I am breaking the law I'd want to hear from people and how can I modify my approach."

ThinkProgress points out that Hawaii has the highest rate of homelessness in the country, and passed funding to buy a one-way plane ticket for any homeless person who wants to leave.

Ya just smash their shopping carts up, that will solve everything. I used to live in Hawaii and I can tell you from first hand experience that it's not the brightest state in the union.

 

[NickNitro]

Well this is the dumbest thing I've read today, and thats saying something.

 

[KevanG]

Let's destroy everything people have and maybe they'll go away.

Because we live on an island.

To quote Shinji "Where the **** would I go?"

 

[Ant-manic]

how long before this is a Southpark skit?

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Ahh but didn't you see, they will give you a one way ticket off the island to get you to go be homeless some place else. Out of sight, out of mind

 

[Teelie]

When you live on top of a volcano, destruction is the answer to everything.

 

[NickNitro]

how long before this is a Southpark skit?

I give it 2 weeks. There's a lot that's been going on lately

 

[Ant-manic]

Ahh but didn't you see, they will give you a one way ticket off the island to get you to go be homeless some place else.

and that, kids, is how Canada was formed. not really

 

[Hotwire]

I'd love to know just how he thinks this will help anything.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

This excuse of a human being just want to get rid of them, not help them nor solve anything.

 

[KevanG]

When you live on top of a volcano, destruction is the answer to everything.

That is actually quite profound and should be the new state motto. I actually really like that.

and that, kids, is how Canada was formed. not really

Is not.

 

[The Question]

I have so many questions. Most of them are some variation of "what the actual ****?"

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

I think the thing that surprises me the most is that guy is a Democrat! Aren't they supposed to be the ones that are looking out for the poor? And I don't get the whole smash your cart thing either, so now you can't carry what meager stuff you have so I guess this will make you go get a job and stop being homeless!!

 

[NickNitro]

At least we can all sleep well knowing Gallagher finally can go somewhere and get a job again.

 

[KevanG]

Next month he plans on destroying everything homeless people have by deciding that 'homeless' now includes people without houses. If you have an apartment or condo he's gonna smash!

 

[Teelie]

I think the thing that surprises me the most is that guy is a Democrat! Aren't they supposed to be the ones that are looking out for the poor? And I don't get the whole smash your cart thing either, so now you can't carry what meager stuff you have so I guess this will make you go get a job and stop being homeless!!

Democrat, Republican, I don't have high opinions of either, although my opinion of Republicans is lower. Both sides have said and done some deplorable things in the name of whatever will get them re-elected or popular.

 

[The Question]

Democrat, Republican, I don't have high opinions of either, although my opinion of Republicans is lower. Both sides have said and done some deplorable things in the name of whatever will get them re-elected or popular.

I am surprised that he's a Democrat, but that's not a value judgement of the party. It's just that this "policy" is so off the beaten path from the Democratic party line that it's really quite baffling. I expect most Democrats to be morally bankrupt panderers, I just usually don't expect them to be morally bankrupt panderers in this specific way.

 

[Teelie]

True. When I read it I just assumed "Republican" because this is typically something I'd associate with them. I am surprised that he's a Democrat but not that a politician thinks this is somehow a good idea.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Lets hope he tries this with some veterans and see what happens.

 

[KevanG]

I don't typically see the difference between the two parties. They have some small differences of opinion but in the end everything is pretty much the same.

 

[AnneFan]

What a weird story.

 

[John Locke]

So did this guy watch Field of Dreams and decide that since "If you build it they will come" is true the corollary "If you destroy it they will go" must be also true.

 

[Schlosser85]

I'm a little in the dark about how smashing homeless people's shopping carts is going to lead to fewer homeless people.

 

[The Question]

I'm a little in the dark about how smashing homeless people's shopping carts is going to lead to fewer homeless people.

Well, I mean, without food they'll starve to death I guess.

 

[Joshua_B]

Terrorizing people is not a viable solution for any social problem...period.