An observation about panhandlers...

[mattdavis11]

I was a very inquisitive one yesterday. Good looking gal knocks on the front door, was very excited to see me. She actually said I ordered her.

So, we had a little chat. Apparently she was 18 from Iowa, had a 24 year old b/f, and wanted to go abroad. I told her to get off the drugs, ditch the b/f, and apply herself. She was very witty, might make a good lawyer one day.

Hours later said b/f knocks on the door like he was trying to make it cave in, chick is still crying. No answer.

If you suck at life, apparently America is the place to be.

[daepp]

Here in So Cal (I.E.) it is my understanding that the homeless are entitled to a voucher for 100% of their rent (granted not in the nicest of areas) and food stamps. This covers the two main staples of food and shelter. And thya re given a "Dignity Card" so no one knows that they are spending food stamp money.

I do not give them cash as I am told that this only goes to booze, drugs and cigs. I have seen the homeless on on-ramps throw out food given to them after the car passes. I collect food for a food bank instead. We deliver a large trailer full of non-perishables monthly to a facility in a poor part of town east of LA. It provides a well rounded selection of staples that will last 2 weeks. You cannot ask for more until 4 weeks have gone by, and they will not support you forever. They have ways of determining where you live and cross-reference recipients to addresses. This is an attempt to reduce complete reliance on this aid.

The primary recipients are Mexican and Black. Most of the whites and minority of the minorities appear to me to be on drugs - but that said, the majority of the recipients are just poor.

At Mass yesterday we were implored to turn a kind eye towards the homeless. And there is plenty in the Bible to back this up. However, I see the on-ramp panhandlers as opportunists and traffic hazards, and can only guess what would happen to me if I hit one with my car while he dodging in and out of traffic trying to get cash.

It is certainly a dilemma for our times and that of our children. I believe the mentally ill should be re-institutionalized - for this I believe is a worthy use of my taxes.

IMHO of course!

[SLO-BOB]

I don't even get the above story. Ordered her? You let her in?? Boyfriend knocking on door??? I gotta be missing something here.

Chicago actually has some of the "best" panhandlers I've seen anywhere. Lots of the typical, hand out for no reason types, but there are people who perform for the money but are clearly begging, not street performers per se'. One guy plays the tuba on Michigan ave. Last time I saw him he was playing the theme to The Flintstones. Pretty comical, but he got very pissed when we laughed. Takes his craft seriously I guess. There are also obviously handicapped people out there, blind, disfigured, etc.. I usually give them money. I don't care if they get assistance. None of that can make up for what nature dealt them. I hope they are getting rich.

[mattdavis11]

You are as baffled as I. I don't think she knew what she was doing at my door at the time. Her story was riddled with holes.

The first thing she said after I asked if can I help you was, "Yea, you ordered me."

I let her thru the garage to the back porch, and sent her out through the side gate.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by SLO-BOB

I hope they are getting rich.

Unfortunately, the only person getting rich is the corner liquor store owner who converts the money you gave the panhandler into booze/cigs.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

I was a very inquisitive one yesterday. Good looking gal knocks on the front door, was very excited to see me. She actually said I ordered her.

So, we had a little chat. Apparently she was 18 from Iowa, had a 24 year old b/f, and wanted to go abroad. I told her to get off the drugs, ditch the b/f, and apply herself. She was very witty, might make a good lawyer one day.

Hours later said b/f knocks on the door like he was trying to make it cave in, chick is still crying. No answer.

If you suck at life, apparently America is the place to be.

WTF are you saying? This makes no sense.

[Joe Bob]

We had a homeless piece of crap waving a replica/air pistol in the air at the local Ralph's Supermarket. SWAT, the Media and every bleeding heart lib in town showed up....made the front page. Took him down with bean bags and a dog after two hours of negotiation.

Fun in a small town....yes, he was a white guy. They probably woulda shot him if he wasn't.....

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by ChrisBennet

I agree with the fact that most of us don't pay our fair shair (i.e. grade school alone probably costs more than most parents pay in taxes for example).

Not in my case. I pay in lots more than I take, and I pay for others who don't.

Originally Posted by ChrisBennet

- Houses: Non-home owning tax payers subsidize homeowners to the tune of the tax deduction home owners get.

Nope again. Homeowners pay lots more. Here it's over 1% of the value of hte property. If the property is worth $3/4 mil (a little above average around here but a nice round number) that's almost $700 a month in property taxes. You tell me where renters pay that much in taxes top subsidize homeowners. Doesn't happen here.
Sure I get to write off the interest to offset income, but that means I save about 25 cents on the dollar. Not even close to offsetting property taxes. It's worse in my case because hy house is almost paid off.

Property owners support those that rent.
People with a good education and good work ethic pay for those that don't.

[Moneyguy1]

Wow. All panhandlers and homeless are lazy opportunists.

Generalities are usually wrong. Someone mentioned the release of many marginally functioning people back into society back in he 70s. That is a contributor. There are those not on drugs or alcohol that simply cannot function in a societial environment and it is not their fault, but they get mixed in with those who are taking advantage of prople's gullibilty and kindness.

I do not give money to panhandlers. I learned a lesson from a nice minority lady I used to work with. A panhandler approached us as we were heading of to lunch and asked for money to buy lunch. My friend told her that she would not give her money but would buy her a sandwitch. I heard some interesting expletives that day.

One of my daughters works for a Charity. They have homeless women and children, victims of abuse. They also have recovering druggies as well. To most unfamiliar with that world, the difference is hard to spot. Both groups are homeless. In my daughter's world, there is a tremendous difference.

Judge not, lest you be judged.

[slodave]

At least some are honest...

[Joe Bob]

I have the fun of doing HAZ MAT inspections on underground gas tanks in the 'hood. The attached Stop and Robs have a unique collection of the nastiest 40 oz Malt Liquor and Fortified wines (think MD 20/20) in stock.

Nowhere else in this city is that crap sold...oh yeah, these S&Rs are right next door to the Salvation Army and other homeless shelters.

Oh yeah....that Ralph's above in the pics? Right across the street from the Greyhound Bus terminal.....

[Brian 162]

Two new ways of panhandling.

1. While in the Best Buy parking lot 2 women are patrolling the parking lot in different areas approaching people with a sign pleading their plight. After 3 times saying NO she moved on.

2 At a donut shop parking lot a guy comes up to people in the parking lot saying I know this sounds like a scam but I left my wallet and cell phone at home and I need $10-20 to put gas in my truck so I can go to my construction job. A week later he's still there.

[slodave]

There was a homeless guy that was hanging around the local Ralphs. I would always see him with a cell phone and even while talking on it, he'd ask for change. I would tell him that if he could afford the phone, he can afford not to beg. His answer - "it's a friends"... One day I saw him with a new pair of shoes, high-end sneakers. I asked a store clerk about the guy, turns out he made a good living at his spot and was homeless with a cell phone and a new pair of shows every few weeks.

He still pissed his pants as he was passed out on the sidewalk though

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by mikez

We had a homeless piece of crap waving a replica/air pistol in the air at the local Ralph's Supermarket. SWAT, the Media and every bleeding heart lib in town showed up....made the front page. Took him down with bean bags and a dog after two hours of negotiation.

2 hrs.? That nut-whack would've lasted about 2 mins. here (FLA). "Bubba the Sheriff" doesn't mess around! We've had 3 cops shot (2 killed) in the last month. They're pretty ansty right now.

On the other hand, we don't have a huge homeless population as you do in Calif. (I couldn't believe the "homeless city" in downtown Los Angeles when I was visiting a few years ago). Why? Most soup-kitchens are deemed "illegal" by the zoning department. There are a few in some churches, but even they get heat from the City Commission. If you don't feed them, they go away, I guess.

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by daepp

However, I see the on-ramp panhandlers as opportunists and traffic hazards, and can only guess what would happen to me if I hit one with my car while he dodging in and out of traffic trying to get cash.

This exact thing almost happened to me about a year ago. A the bottom of a freeway offramp the bum was on the left side with his sign. A car on the far right was stopped to make a right turn. As I was approaching the bottom of the ramp in the far left lane, the stopped car at right holds out a dollar bill to the bum. Bum runs out across the offramp to get his cash, right in front of my car traveling about 30 mph at that point. Hitting the brakes and jerking the wheel to the right and I barely missed him. Fool never even looked to see if there were cars coming.

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by ChrisBennet

- Houses: Non-home owning tax payers subsidize homeowners to the tune of the tax deduction home owners get.

I agree with everything else you said Chris, but not this one. Homeowners generally pay more in property taxes, especially compared to apartment dwellers. Most homeowners probably pay more income taxes than renters as well. By the gubmit letting me keep more of my money (tax writeoff on home loan interest) I'm not getting subsidized by renters. They don't pay more, because I don't pay as much. Me personally, I pay more in taxes than the average family of four in the US even earns.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by slodave

At least some are honest...

So I'm supposed to reward someone for simply being honest? Bah to that - I EXPECT honesty - I shouldn't have to offer a special incentive for it.

[legion]

Originally Posted by on-ramp

this is America, the greatest country in the world. (I hope). There is no reason whatsoever for anyone to be homeless. get a job, any job, start somewhere, and develop your skills. being homeless is more in the brain , than the result of society. homeless people have simply given up hope. they need mental help first, or help from their drug or alcoholism.

Who are you and what have you done with On-Ramp?

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by ChrisBennet

- Houses: Non-home owning tax payers subsidize homeowners to the tune of the tax deduction home owners get.

Let's see here, I've been a homeowner for about 12 yrs. now, have no kids and my taxes go up every single year, even when our values go down. The night classes I've taken I've had to pay for out of pocket. Somehow, I don't think anyone is subsidizing me.

My parents' property taxes in one year are about the same as a decent private school's tuition. My sister and I went to private school, my parents have to pay for private garbage pick-up, private snow removal and are allowed to go to the county recycling center twice a year. They sure are subsidizing someone.

[SLO-BOB]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

Unfortunately, the only person getting rich is the corner liquor store owner who converts the money you gave the panhandler into booze/cigs.

Gee, I guess if you only quote that part of everything I said, I guess you are right. But, I have a hard time believing the disabled people I've given money to are spending it in the liquor store. But, if they are, again-good for them and I'm glad to help.

On the other hand, I had a bum come up to me in my car as I waited at a red light in Chicago. He actually reached through my sunroof and, for lack of a better description, ruffled my hair and demanded a cigarette. Naturally, I rubuffed this effrontery with some choice words. I was more concerned about the car than my doo because it was brand new - a Jetta GLi. He took exception to this and replied in kind and proceeded to kick a dent in my door. At this point the light was green - It was "go time" in more ways than one. Despite the fact that I now had the signal to continue on my way, I got out to deal him the abuse he so deserved. He apparently thought better of it and decided the solution was to try to hold my door closed. That, having failed, was replaced by another sage move - playing possum. He basically dropped to the ground and played dead. I considered a sound kick to any part of the *********, but upon looking around saw we were the entertainment for the 5 o'clock crowd. Some were jesturing that I should give the bum a beating. I decided to move on and leave him laying there in the middle of the street. Did I mention a bus was coming?