Street people asking for money

Camper6 said:
What you are saying is that you should be able to get a job or whatever to correct their poverty.
In reality it doesn't work that way especially in the United States.
You see if you are born into poor family your chances of becoming rich are not what they are for those born into rich families.
Education, connections, etc.
If a person is born into a poor family, the only hope he might have is to excel in sports so he might be able to get a scholarship or whatever to bring his education level up to where he can get a good paying job. That's what it's all about isn't it? All kinds of kids I grew up with had to quit school and get a job to help support the family.
Now what we are talking about in this thread is people asking for money on the street.
For me it's a no brainer. If you have something that small and can't share it with someone what you have is nothing.

When the depression took place how could you expect people to correct their bad situation? All kinds of people sold apples or whatever just to get by.
There's no magic bullet where you can suddenly become wealthy just by work alone.

I honestly think you think that homeless people want to be that way by choice. Loosen up. It's good for the soul.
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I never said anything about becoming wealthy . But one can work to correct their bad situation.
 

win231 said:
Some are able to correct their bad situation. Some can't. It's not always possible to correct every bad situation. But it is very easy to criticize those who can't correct it while you sit smugly in your good situation.
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"But it is very easy to criticize those who can't correct it while you sit smugly in your good situation."

Just can't do without the snide remarks, can ya?
 
It is simple, give if you want to, don’t. If you do not
 

rgp said:
I never said anything about becoming wealthy . But one can work to correct their bad situation.
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O.K. let's not talk about wealthy. Lets just talk about survival and being able to put bread on the table and feed a family.
People are at a huge disadvantage. One example I can give you is the native reserves. in both Canada and the United States. The poverty level is high compared to the rest of the population.
So they move into the city and can't get jobs and my own personal observation is that these are the people asking for money. Yes we can donate to shelters, food banks, etc. but that's far from a solution.

Work to correct their bad situation? That's if you can get a job at all.

In the meantime, even if I can help them in their situation for even one day, that's what I will do and I don't believe by doing it, I'm fostering their way of life.
 
when hubby was working in the city -he would go by train - he told me every morning he comes out of the station there is a young girl curled up in the doorway about 19 ish.... sad i said - but then a few times a week i did 2 sandwiches wrapped for her =he would walk pass and put the sarnies by her ' but people who ask i dont do ' sometimes there fit and young enough to get any job even as a grass cutter etc ..
 
I think what bothers me is that a great deal of them are junkies that can't work because the drugs have screwed them up so badly and they can't stay out of jail long enough to do anything. Many times they are not right in the head. Those were choices they made. That is the path they took.

I could've done that too but I didn't. I stayed straight. I got a job. I took care of myself. There's no reason these folks couldn't have done the same. It's different if they'd gotten fired and were temporarily out of work. But if they CHOSE to be druggies or CHOSE to live on the street, why is it my responsibility to take care of myself & give them handouts to support them?

Especially when things are so expensive that I live paycheck to paycheck. I give to the mission when I can. That's it. It's not my fault they are in the position they are in & I don't feel like it's my responsibility to take care of them.
 
Camper6 said:
O.K. let's not talk about wealthy. Lets just talk about survival and being able to put bread on the table and feed a family.
People are at a huge disadvantage. One example I can give you is the native reserves. in both Canada and the United States. The poverty level is high compared to the rest of the population.
So they move into the city and can't get jobs and my own personal observation is that these are the people asking for money. Yes we can donate to shelters, food banks, etc. but that's far from a solution.

Work to correct their bad situation? That's if you can get a job at all.

In the meantime, even if I can help them in their situation for even one day, that's what I will do and I don't believe by doing it, I'm fostering their way of life.
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Many of them have screwed themselves out of getting jobs because of criminal backgrounds. And the more handouts they get the more they are being enabled to continue in the lifestyle they are accustomed to. We are paying for them to be in the system in jail, the shelter, and the handouts. Why would they want to change when they are getting a free ride?
 
MarciKS said:
Many of them have screwed themselves out of getting jobs because of criminal backgrounds. And the more handouts they get the more they are being enabled to continue in the lifestyle they are accustomed to. We are paying for them to be in the system in jail, the shelter, and the handouts. Why would they want to change when they are getting a free ride?
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Because of the reputation of those who create criminal backgrounds, all of them are affected so the chances of them getting jobs are limited.
Far from getting a free ride, I wouldn't change places from them free ride or not. And I don't think you would either.
The mistake is creating the reserves in the first place. Now whose fault was that?
Nice to hear from you on the topic. Do you remember the political promises "war on poverty"?
Guess what. They lost.
 
We had a guy that would park his car at the grocery store & walk to the highway & sit there risking frostbite with no hood, no gloves, no hat so he could appear even more pathetic. One day I happened to catch him on his way back from the highway. He got into his vehicle which was nicer than mine & went around the corner to his house a few blocks away. Someone told me that he makes enough to pay for his car & all his bills so he doesn't need to work. I'm sorry. I'm not about to support that crap.
 
Last year, on holiday in Scotland we spent the day in Glasgow. There seemed to be a homeless person, asking for money, on each corner. We gave what we could. Later, going to the car park, a large well dressed gentleman was leading about 12 of these people to a large people carrier. They were all laughing and joking. One of them remembered me and as I passed shouted out 'So long sucker!' Now, I carry biscuits, candy, money off coupons, energy bars etc and give them one of those. This small minority are spoiling it for people genuinely in need
 
Camper6 said:
Because of the reputation of those who create criminal backgrounds, all of them are affected so the chances of them getting jobs are limited.
Far from getting a free ride, I wouldn't change places from them free ride or not. And I don't think you would either.
The mistake is creating the reserves in the first place. Now whose fault was that?
Nice to hear from you on the topic. Do you remember the political promises "war on poverty"?
Guess what. They lost.
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I just want to say this one last thing on this subject. I could just as easily have turned out like this too. But we all have to make choices in life as to what we're going to do with it. If I had chosen to be a druggie or if I had chosen to live on the street, it would be unfair of me to expect everyone else to pay my way.

Yes, poverty happens. But that's no excuse to not job hunt. And a great deal of these folks never even try. They are getting handouts. Some of them are eating as well as anyone else.

I get that certain situations happen but if a person gives up & doesn't even try then it's not my responsibility or yours or anyone else's to make it right for them. And in today's homeless system they are given every opportunity to shower & go look for jobs. I know because I spoke with a young man who was homeless in his 30s & he's trying to get a job. I haven't seen him since the day I drove him back to the shelter when he missed his bus. But, the point is, he was trying. Trying to get his life straightened out and back on track.

I'm not a heartless human being. I just don't believe in having to support people who have made a mess out of their lives & have no desire to change it or can't because they're so screwed up they can't turn back. We are all responsible for our own lives & the choices we make.
 
MarciKS said:
We had a guy that would park his car at the grocery store & walk to the highway & sit there risking frostbite with no hood, no gloves, no hat so he could appear even more pathetic. One day I happened to catch him on his way back from the highway. He got into his vehicle which was nicer than mine & went around the corner to his house a few blocks away. Someone told me that he makes enough to pay for his car & all his bills so he doesn't need to work. I'm sorry. I'm not about to support that crap.
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I don't blame you. Neither would I. However is that the norm or the exception? For me seeing the numbers of people in poverty and needing food stamps, etc. I would say it's the exception.
 
Dolly said:
Last year, on holiday in Scotland we spent the day in Glasgow. There seemed to be a homeless person, asking for money, on each corner. We gave what we could. Later, going to the car park, a large well dressed gentleman was leading about 12 of these people to a large people carrier. They were all laughing and joking. One of them remembered me and as I passed shouted out 'So long sucker!' Now, I carry biscuits, candy, money off coupons, energy bars etc and give them one of those. This small minority are spoiling it for people genuinely in need
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You know the "well dressed gentleman"? They have screwed me royally more than once and not for pocket change either.👌
 
MarciKS said:
I just want to say this one last thing on this subject. I could just as easily have turned out like this too. But we all have to make choices in life as to what we're going to do with it. If I had chosen to be a druggie or if I had chosen to live on the street, it would be unfair of me to expect everyone else to pay my way.

Yes, poverty happens. But that's no excuse to not job hunt. And a great deal of these folks never even try. They are getting handouts. Some of them are eating as well as anyone else.

I get that certain situations happen but if a person gives up & doesn't even try then it's not my responsibility or yours or anyone else's to make it right for them. And in today's homeless system they are given every opportunity to shower & go look for jobs. I know because I spoke with a young man who was homeless in his 30s & he's trying to get a job. I haven't seen him since the day I drove him back to the shelter when he missed his bus. But, the point is, he was trying. Trying to get his life straightened out and back on track.

I'm not a heartless human being. I just don't believe in having to support people who have made a mess out of their lives & have no desire to change it or can't because they're so screwed up they can't turn back. We are all responsible for our own lives & the choices we make.
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So they are so screwed up they can't turn back. So what do you do? Just turn your back on them and let them deteriorate?
If you can afford an 8 billion dollar aircraft carrier you can afford to help. That's where your tax dollars are going.
The choices you made are because you had the opportunity to make those choices.
Other's don't have that opportunity.
So now people ignore the COVID-19 warnings and go out to gatherings and get sick.
So what do you do? Just abandon them?
No. That's the way we are. Lift up the downtrodden and unfortunates.
 
LOL! How do you figure that people who ignore the COVID warnings & go out & get sick are "unfortunates?"

And why is it when my mother developed Rheumatoid Arthritis & couldn't work anymore she couldn't get disability? Yet I lived across from a 20 something druggie who stayed in jammies 24/7 365 days a year playing video games & smoking pot & he was on disability. He was constantly trying to bum food & alcohol & cigarettes & money from everyone who lived there. That money that he is getting is money that should be staying in the SS fund to help us older people be able to retire.

We've spent a lifetime working & giving. And now when it's our turn to retire they may not have enough money because they have given it all away to people like this druggie. So now I gotta spend the rest of my life with no way to retire & work till I die because of this d**s**t. And to top it all off, I still gotta pay his way. I'm sorry but I'm not on board with that. I don't care how you color it. LOL!
 
MarciKS said:
LOL! How do you figure that people who ignore the COVID warnings & go out & get sick are "unfortunates?"

And why is it when my mother developed Rheumatoid Arthritis & couldn't work anymore she couldn't get disability? Yet I lived across from a 20 something druggie who stayed in jammies 24/7 365 days a year playing video games & smoking pot & he was on disability. He was constantly trying to bum food & alcohol & cigarettes & money from everyone who lived there. That money that he is getting is money that should be staying in the SS fund to help us older people be able to retire.

We've spent a lifetime working & giving. And now when it's our turn to retire they may not have enough money because they have given it all away to people like this druggie. So now I gotta spend the rest of my life with no way to retire & work till I die because of this d**s**t. And to top it all off, I still gotta pay his way. I'm sorry but I'm not on board with that. I don't care how you color it. LOL!
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I can see valid points in both viewpoints (pro and con, that is), but mostly what you express here.
 
MarciKS said:
LOL! How do you figure that people who ignore the COVID warnings & go out & get sick are "unfortunates?"

And why is it when my mother developed Rheumatoid Arthritis & couldn't work anymore she couldn't get disability? Yet I lived across from a 20 something druggie who stayed in jammies 24/7 365 days a year playing video games & smoking pot & he was on disability. He was constantly trying to bum food & alcohol & cigarettes & money from everyone who lived there. That money that he is getting is money that should be staying in the SS fund to help us older people be able to retire.

We've spent a lifetime working & giving. And now when it's our turn to retire they may not have enough money because they have given it all away to people like this druggie. So now I gotta spend the rest of my life with no way to retire & work till I die because of this d**s**t. And to top it all off, I still gotta pay his way. I'm sorry but I'm not on board with that. I don't care how you color it. LOL!
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Would you trade places?.
 
in the apartments I live at, I see some people that refuse to work, and they have drug and/or alcohol issues (and run ins with the law as a result of their drug use)... as soon as they get a few bucks, they head to the liquor store or buy drugs...

this is why I've never liked giving strangers cash... buying them a meal or giving them a chick filet gift card makes more sense to me than cash. I don't want to fund their bad decisions.
 

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