Those folks who ask for money in front of supermarkets

[aaronc879]

Actually Al, I think this is a great idea . I would gladly give money to people in real need but how can we know if it's a scam or they really need the money ?

The ones who die on the street from starvation are the ones who needed the help. I guess i'm just a naive guy from a small midwest town. I had no idea there were scammers pretending to be in need. I guess those who are really in need will be left with just one option, commit a non-violent crime so they can go to jail and get food and shelter. Either that or die. Some will probably chose to die free rather than be locked up.

 

[Lancelot]

The con artists were in Thailand too. They began with "Excuse me, do you speak english? Well, I've just lost my passport and..."

Its a growth businesss

 

[haha]

Actually Al, I think this is a great idea . I would gladly give money to people in real need but how can we know if it's a scam or they really need the money ?

In Seattle, if they are selling Real Change they qualify.

Real Change News | About

Ha

 

[Nemo2]

The con artists were in Thailand too. They began with "Excuse me, do you speak english? Well, I've just lost my passport and..."

Its a growth businesss

I recall, sometime in the 1980s, reading in an English language Saudi newspaper of a female beggar in Makkah/Medinah with something like 200,000 riyals (around 3 riyals to the dollar at that time) on her.

 

[MichaelB]

Maybe there should be a certification program for panhandlers. They have an interview and if they can show that have a legitimate reason for begging, they get a card that they can wear around their neck. I'm half serious.

In South Florida there is a network of people at busy intersections that solicit funds. They have printed handouts (newsletters?) and carry large colored ids around their necks. They also wear t-shirts with the name of an organization that supports homeless.

 

[youbet]

In South Florida there is a network of people at busy intersections that solicit funds. They have printed handouts (newsletters?) and carry large colored ids around their necks. They also wear t-shirts with the name of an organization that supports homeless.

I love to watch the turf wars when folks from Organization #1 bump into folks from Organizaion #2 on the same corner..........

Fortunately, streetside "begging turf" bounds are usually worked out between either organized crime or gang leaders preventing constant violence at the best spots.......

Independent "workers," such as a lone individual doing the homeless gig, aren't part of this and try to slip in and out quickly without getting their heads bashed by the organized folks.

I'm speaking of the Chicago area.

 

[kombat]

Many if not most of the homeless street beggars have mental problems.

If you smoked $200 worth of meth every day for 2 years, your brain would start to get a little fried, too.

I see it as a chicken/egg problem. How many of these "mentally ill" homeless people were mentally ill when they started? How many were actually relatively normal people who started doing drugs, then consequently lost everything and developed mental illnesses?

I give nothing, ever. The vast majority of them are where they are because of drugs. Moreover, the majority of crime is drug-related. People don't rob liquor stores to pay the rent. They do it to buy drugs. People don't rip the copper wiring out of half-built homes and pawn it for money to buy groceries. They do it for drugs. People don't get into fights in front of bars over political differences. They fight because they're drunk/high.

Imagine how much better the world would be without these taxing drains on society, consuming our resources at every level (legal, medical, commercial, penal) while contributing nothing in return. Such a waste.

 

[eridanus]

I see it as a chicken/egg problem. How many of these "mentally ill" homeless people were mentally ill when they started? How many were actually relatively normal people who started doing drugs, then consequently lost everything and developed mental illnesses?

I don't know. How many?

When mental health was handed over to the states in the 1980s via block grants (and cut 25%), it led to many mentally ill people being kicked out of hospitals due to lack of funding. This has continued to this day.

Someone with schizophrenia isn't put into a hospital unless they are a threat to themselves or others. When they are no longer a threat, they're released. Consequently, if they don't have the money to cover treatment at a private facility, they will never get treatment. Unable to hold a job, they end up on the streets.

Imagine how much better the world would be without these taxing drains on society, consuming our resources at every level (legal, medical, commercial, penal) while contributing nothing in return. Such a waste.

A lot of people, even those with jobs or ERed, contribute far less than they receive. Some are on this board. Such a waste.

 

[kombat]

A lot of people, even those with jobs or ERed, contribute far less than they receive. Some are on this board. Such a waste.

You know as well as I do that there's an enormous difference between someone who was a productive member of society, contributing taxes and labor into an economy for 4 or 5 decades, and is simply collecting a few hundred dollars in SS every month, and a 25-year old serial drug abuser who's never held a steady job, paid any taxes, and goes from hospital to police car to courtroom to jail, over and over and over again.

The latter costs far, far more per month than the former.

 

[eridanus]

You know as well as I do that there's an enormous difference between someone who was a productive member of society, contributing taxes and labor into an economy for 4 or 5 decades, and is simply collecting a few hundred dollars in SS every month, and a 25-year old serial drug abuser who's never held a steady job, paid any taxes, and goes from hospital to police car to courtroom to jail, over and over and over again.

The latter costs far, far more per month than the former.

Financially, perhaps, but morally and ethically? Sometimes it's a wash.

 

[Texas Proud]

You know as well as I do that there's an enormous difference between someone who was a productive member of society, contributing taxes and labor into an economy for 4 or 5 decades, and is simply collecting a few hundred dollars in SS every month, and a 25-year old serial drug abuser who's never held a steady job, paid any taxes, and goes from hospital to police car to courtroom to jail, over and over and over again.

The latter costs far, far more per month than the former.

Just want to point out that the former make it up in volume...



(Just pulling your leg... not dissing you).....

 

[JPatrick]

A lot of people, even those with jobs or ERed, contribute far less than they receive. Some are on this board. Such a waste.

Could you expand on that a bit? I'm curious where/what you define as "waste."

 

[Ronstar]

Yesterday I walked the streets in jeans, a jean jacket, and several days of stubble on my face. I noticed that there were far fewer beggars asking me for money. I think they thought I was one of them.

 

[JPatrick]

Yesterday I walked the streets in jeans, a jean jacket, and several days of stubble on my face. I noticed that there were far fewer beggars asking me for money. I think they thought I was one of them.

That will usually get you a better price on a new car also..

 

[TromboneAl]

The reason I did the brass Noo Yawker thing with this guy was based on something I learned from a retired cop who taught a self defense class.

Admit it, you just like playing the brash Noo Yawker. It is your inner freebird.

 

[growing_older]

Financially, perhaps, but morally and ethically? Sometimes it's a wash.

You are kidding or being ironic? How can you possibly consider the moral or ethical situations to be even remotely comparable. A responsible member of society for decades made contributions and paid taxes, then needs some financial support when they are older is no where close to the ethical and moral waste of a long-term drug user who never held a steady job, never paid taxes, and will be supported directly or indirectly with expenses for police, prisons and drug treatment programs their entire life.

 

[M Paquette]

You are kidding or being ironic? How can you possibly consider the moral or ethical situations to be even remotely comparable. A responsible member of society for decades made contributions and paid taxes, then needs some financial support when they are older is no where close to the ethical and moral waste of a long-term drug user who never held a steady job, never paid taxes, and will be supported directly or indirectly with expenses for police, prisons and drug treatment programs their entire life.

All too true. Consider poor Alisa Rosenbaum, who was a popular author and quite the woman about town in her day. Alas, in spite of being objectively a very responsible person (as she'd tell you at the drop of a hat), in her later years she fell ill with a form of cancer, and had to rely on Medicare to cover the bills.

 

[Nords]

Maybe there should be a certification program for panhandlers. They have an interview and if they can show that have a legitimate reason for begging, they get a card that they can wear around their neck. I'm half serious.

The sign would say "Will play jazz keyboard for food!"

I'm half joking...

 

[Badger]

I remember a black guy running the "I need money for gas" scam. His trick was that the first thing he'd ask is "Are you prejudiced?" It put people on the defensive, and made them eager to prove that they weren't prejudiced by giving some money.

That would be an easy one to deal with. Just say YES!

Cheers!

 

[Redbugdave]

I think we will be seeing more panhandlers in the future with the economy as bad as it is.

I think panhandling would be a good sideline for the ER types on this board. Sort of like going fishing or surfing...good exercise, meeting people, fresh air, tax free money, better deals on getting cars...and you go home at the end of the day, take a shower, watch TV, and post on this forum...

 

[Badger]

I made a list with copies to hand out of all the places in the city that provide shelter and a meal for those in need. If they really need some help (and is not a scam) then this would be better than handing them a dollar.

Cheers!

 

[tmm99]

I think we will be seeing more panhandlers in the future with the economy as bad as it is.

I think panhandling would be a good sideline for the ER types on this board. Sort of like going fishing or surfing...good exercise, meeting people, fresh air, tax free money, better deals on getting cars...and you go home at the end of the day, take a shower, watch TV, and post on this forum...

I think some of us should volunteer from our forum to do a little experiment. Try out this panhandling thing and see how much we could make (unless some of us here are already doing it like Dave says...) Then we can take a poll on the average "panhandling income".

 

[tmm99]

I made a list with copies to hand out of all the places in the city that provide shelter and a meal for those in need. If they really need some help (and is not a scam) then this would be better than handing them a dollar.

Cheers!

That's a great idea. And add all government assistance programs to it.

 

[TromboneAl]

the sign would say "will play jazz keyboard for food!"

i'm half joking...

 

[ripper1]

I almost always give a buck or two when asked. I can afford it and it makes me feel good.

WWJGD, what would jerry garcia do.

I agree, grasshopper. Who cares what they do with it. It usually makes both parties happy. I had a guy come up to me once and he asked me if I had a buck so he could get a drink because he really needed it. I gladly handed him a couple dollars and boy did he have a grin. Made my day.