What do you do when a bum approaches you and asks for money? Do you give them the money or just ignore them?
If I were filthy rich, I would probably give every bum that asked me for money a couple dollars, but I am not filthy rich and I am not even close to being rich. Since this is true, when a bum asks me for money, I always either keep on walking or say that I don't have any cash on me (which is true and often the case). Unfortunately in this day and age, even if I did give a bum some money, they would probably go off and buy drugs or booze with the money I just gave them. I don't really support alcoholism or drug use so I would see that as a waste of my money because it is going towards something I don't endorse. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that all bums are druggies or alcoholics, but that is what one has to assume these days. This is quite an unfortunate assumption, but times have surely changed and you'd be a fool not to acknowlege that fact. On the other hand, if I were leaving a restaurant with my little take home box or whatever and a bum asked me for money, I would offer the food. I would do this simply because if the bum were truly going to use my money to buy food, then why not just take the food that is already prepared?
In my economics class, we had a long discussion about this topic and came to a couple general conclusions.
1. It is okay to acknowledge bums because some of them are just people that are down on their luck.
2. Generally, do not give bums cash because you don't know what they'll use it for.
3. It is okay to offer bums leftover food if they approach you after leaving a restaurant.
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Its none of your business how a bum spend your money. Share what you got and thank God you ain't begging too. If he kills himself with drugs or alcohol, thats not your responsibility. You wouldn't tell a complete stranger to stop smoking would you? If you really care and are concerned that a hand out is supporting a bum's bad habits, maybe next time you could try giving him some advise. Its a lot more valuable than a couple of bucks.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights..."
MOST homeless people are homeless by choice. It is never easy to be poor and I have been VERY poor.
However, most people you see begging for money aren't homeless. There have been multiple investigative journalism pieces showing beggars driving decent cars.
Why, then, do they ask for YOUR money?
Drugs and Alcohol.
I never give money. I used to offer to buy them a lunch, but received enough curse-filled rants to where I don't do that anymore (They aren't there for FOOD, even if their sign begs you for money for food.)
Don't be an enabler. Even if you had a billion dollars and gave each one 5 bucks, you wouldn't end begging... you wouldn't end poverty.
I completely agree! It's so easy to get a job. Think about all the people living in cheap tiny apartments getting minimum wage. I don't see those people begging for money... And I'm pretty sure it's easy to find a job that pays minimum wage unless you've done something illegal or you just don't want a job.
I agree that it's a moral dilemma about whether or not to give money to people who are begging. The argument that some people aren't really in need of the money and instead use it for drugs or alcohol are both good ones, and I've struggled with that as well.
However, I'm not convinced by your argument. The problem from what I understand it is that if you don't have an address, say you got fired and lost your house before you can get a job and don't have anyone to live with, you can't fill out a job application. There is nowhere to send your tax sheets and without a residence, I don't think that it's possible to get a job. If someone can post a link refuting this, please do because I could very well be wrong on this.
Furthermore, a lot of homeless people have something wrong with them, like an untreated mental illness or are hurt in some way to the point where they can't work and are too poor to buy what they would need in order to work (like medication). Veterans are very often times among the homeless because of PTSD and other injuries. Since healthcare has been cut for veterans, they can't get it taken care of without money and usually can't live off of what they got while in the service.
I can't imagine being homeless, but I also can't imagine that someone would choose to be homeless unless there was something off about them or the option was completely repugnant (such as living in a mental institution or homeless shelter). I can't imagine that MOST homeless people would choose homelessness over the opportunity to buy at least their own food.
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You must be the change you wish to see in the world -- Mahatma Ghandi
Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress. --Mahatma Gandhi
I saw one guy on the street corner with a sign that said "Why lie? I need booze." I have offered food, blankets, rides, anything I could think of and no one begging ever took any of those things, they just wanted money. I still offer, though. I guess you never know when you meet someone who really does need a bite to eat or a warm blanket on a cold night.