AGuest, there are always many avenues for rescue. I understand this personally, as I have been on welfare and down to my last egg many times. If this person is not using the other resources available to him (social agencies, family, friends, etc.) it is because he thinks this forum would be easier than other routes (In other words, there will be no accountability for his actions).
A person who is TRULY desperate and can't see any other "way out"? Perhaps? Nahhhh... all "needy" people are con artists
I did not say that. I have been needy many times. But I never approached people on the street. Panhandlers are not all poor. Some have simply have found a more convenient method for collecting income. Which is fine for them. I still have the choice as to whether I want to support that lifestyle or not.
A story. A sweet, gentle woman in my church came to early prayer, distressed at what she had seen on the street only a few blocks away. Tearfully, she described a child firmly holding the hand of a man holding up a home made sign, "No Food. Please feed my Child." I had seen the man, too, but I had a very different reaction. Children do not go hungry in this country unless the parent is spending money on something other than food. I smelled a fish, and I was angry at the man for using his child in this way. I was also angry for giving the poor such a bad image. And for distressing soft and gentle woman like my sister for no good reason. That man did get in the news. The police investigated, and found he was using the children to get bigger donations on the street. He had never been turned down for any social services. His children were taken away.
Here's another one for you. Ever been approached by a deaf person handing out sign language cards for small change? Did you know that the deaf community is insulted by this behavior (culturally, they do not consider themselves handicapped) and that you are probably handing your small change to a person who can hear perfectly well? The deaf community resents this activity very much, as it does not reflect well on their group, or their true lifestyle.
As a graduate of the school of hard knocks, I am insulted by people who use poverty as an excuse to beg for cash. Especially if they can afford a computer and internet access. They reflect badly on the millions of people living below the poverty line. These heroic folk clip coupons, chase down specials, save vegetable and meat scraps for stew, shop second hand, recycle clothing through all the children then cut the rags for rags, save the buttons for a rainy day, have a friend cut their hair, do without, bus and walk because they can't afford a car, wear out shoe leather and filling out endless forms for the smallest subsidy, tolerate budget advice from bureaucrats who have never made home-made stew, make do with libraries museums and art galleries because Disney is an impossible dream. These poor folks raise children who are grateful, hard working, and know the value of a dollar.
