It's a superficial solution that does not address the causes. There's always going to be homeless people because no matter how benevolent and generous a society is, a small segment of the population will always remain on the fringes. I've seen wretched itinerants in Japan.

From my observations, the three biggest causes of homelessness today are the cost of housing, the class of drugs prevalent on the streets, and how our society addresses severe mental illness.

In California, which accounts for 70% of the homeless in the U.S., housing costs are the most profound cause. That certainly holds true throughout the rest of the country but is most acutely felt there. I'm not sure how that can be addressed. The demand for housing is at an all-time high. Alowing 6 million people to flood into the country in the last 3 years is not helping the situation. The solution will take time to balance out.

The second most prevalent cause is the flood of fentanyl and other drugs streaming across the border. Mexican cartels have strong networks set up throughout the U.S. to ensure the stuff is plentiful. Another drug that is becoming popular and plentiful is xylazine. It's an animal tranquilizer which causes the users to slump forward but remain on their feet in some kind of bizarre zombie trance. We've all seen the pictures and videos. Getting the flow of drugs and the cartels under control is an important first step.

The solution to the third problem is intensely debatable. It is my view that institutions need to be reestablished to house and treat the most severely ill. Allowing people who are too demented to even care for themselves to roam the streets unchecked and untreated is not compassionate. It's quite the opposite and also subjects them to even more mental stress, as well as endangering the public.

So there. If I were king, I would enact these solutions.

And as a benign king, I would have all detractors banished. Don't mess with the nice king.

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