Don't stop giving change to beggars

The Denver Post ^ | August 26, 2005 | Reggie Rivers

[The Shrew]

Of course the author is our own Denver-based liberal-sometime-radio-host-sometime-columnist who is also a former Denver Bronco who couldn't hold onto a football if it had been surgically attached to his hands - Reggie Rivers.

What is it about sports columnists and athletes that turns the majority of them into liberals? They spend their entire lives seeking excellence. The difference between success and failure in their profession is 100ths of seconds and inches of space. How, after spending that much effort, can they not see the benefits of hard work in other aspects of our society? Bueller? Anyone?

Regards,

TS

[Millee]

LOL!

[Mr. Jeeves]

How, after spending that much effort, can they not see the benefits of hard work in other aspects of our society? Bueller? Anyone?

I call it "French Revolution Aversion Syndrome." These prominent liberals, from sports stars to Hollywood figures to Ted Kennedy, feel:

1) No matter how much work they put in, they were lucky to have succeeded.

2) They didn't actually earn their success - it was given to them. They lack honest self-esteem.

3) They are deathly afraid their economic status is going to be taken from them by force, and thus...

4) They are willing to spend any amount of public money necessary to buy off the slavering hordes before they actually show up at The Compound with pitchforks and torches.

These types actually hate and fear the poor far more than conservatives do - they believe the poor are too stupid to succeed on their own. Their feelings of condescenscion and terror lead directly to their advocacy of massive social spending programs.

[Disambiguator]

The author of this piece needs to understand a basic principle of government economics.

If you want MORE of something, you subsidize it.

If you want LESS of something, you tax it.

By subsidizing beggars, this in-duh-vidual is not making the problem any better (like the post about cats).

[Mike Bates]

My favorite was: "My, oh my, you is looking spectacular this morning mama!"

You mean that was you? What a coincidence meeting again on FR.

[Mike Bates]

This is liberalism at its' very worst.

I don't consider voluntary giving to be liberalism in general, and certainly not at its worst.

[cotton1706]

Uhh....cotton. That IS their job.

Yeah, I know. I'm not naive. There's a guy by my house with a sign that says "stranded vet". He's been there since about May. You'd think he would have collected enough for a bus ticket anywhere by now. But he doesn't need a bus ticket, see. The only place he wants to go is right back to that corner.

[Mike Bates]

I'll freepmail you my address so you can send me a check, Daddy-O. :-D

Sorry, Millee, other FReepers had the same idea.

[ErnBatavia]

Having started my working career in the Los Angeles warehouse district (hard by Skid Row) I decided very early on to never, ever give a panhandler anything...I guess I didn't want to "break the seal" and establish any sort of personal precedence, 'cause I'd have gone broke real quick.

Never have, never will.

[jpl]

I believe psychologists call this "enabling".

[MinnesotaLibertarian]

"If a homeless person has a funny sign, he hasn't been homeless very long. A real homeless person is too hungry to be funny." - Chris Rock

[Terabitten]

I'll admit to playing guitar on the street with an open case a time or two - but I think *everybody* knew it was just for beer money :)

[Terabitten]

I don't have a problem with people giving handouts to bums, but I do not do it, and generally just say "Hey, how ya doin'?" and keep walkin'.

I growl at them. I mean, literally, bare my teeth and growl. You'd be amazed how quickly they leave you alone.

[DarkSavant]

Homelessness is a choice in America. Most of these beggars remain homeless at their own whim. Many are wanted felons, carry disease, loathe work and never, ever, pay taxes.

or insane....

[Artemis Webb]

My favorite was: "My, oh my, you is looking spectacular this morning mama!""

I'm very sure he was right!

:o)

[DarkSavant]

One of my friends from back in the day was a church groundkeeper and was very adament about locking the church up at night to keep out the homeless people who try to get in there to sleep. It's necessary to protect the church and all, but it still didn't feel completely right either.

[AnAmericanMother]

My priest recommends in-kind donations (like McDonald's gift cards or whatever -- something that can't be spent on booze.)

The professional beggars can clear 2-300 a day, tax free. Why get a minimum wage job and have to show up for work clean and decent?

On the other hand, there's a guy at the intersection of 14th St. and the interstate ramp (on the west side) who holds up a sign reading "WHY LIE? - I WANT A BEER." I always give him a couple of bucks 'cause (as I told him) I like an honest man.

[lemura]

Panhandlers play an important role in our society, because they are the visible face of poverty the mentally ill.

[Lazamataz]

I growl at them. I mean, literally, bare my teeth and growl. You'd be amazed how quickly they leave you alone.

Until you meet this particular homeless guy:

[Zechariah_8_13]

We give out $1 McDonald's gift certificates (2 or 3 buys a decent meal off of the dollar menu). Sure, they could conceivably be sold to other people for money, but eventually, someone who's hungry will get a meal. Handing out the certificates is a compromise we're comfortable with.

We always ask if the person would like the gift certificates before giving them out. In Detroit, we often got disgusted looks and "no" answers - they only wanted money. Here in TX, everyone (so far) has been very grateful and sincere.

There was a study done on a major intersection in the Detroit area, one we drove through nearly every day when we lived there. They found that beggars at that intersection were pulling in $200 - $300 a day. That's really good money. Why WOULD you work? Set your own hours, keep all the profits, pay no taxes... it's great!