If not professional con artists, then simply louts who have chosen not to work. At least in the "Western" world. Things are different in the Third World.

Two guys take shifts sharing the same median strip off of I-5 on the 164th street exit in Lynnwood, where I get off the freeway on my way home every day. They have been there for well over five years. Both are healthy, middle aged, adult males. Both have signs that say "will work for food". So, I'm assuming they can work. Down on their luck for over five years? Bullchips.

I used to throw a can of soup or box of cereal or something in the car every morning, just for these guys, at least when they first showed up. Benefit of the doubt. Then, after several months of giving these things to them - along with advice on who was hiring locally - I stopped. They were never all that happy to receive these items anyway.

One of the local radio stations used to drive around looking for guys like this. They would offer them work in exchange for food. The vast majority refused, and most were bold enough to ask for money instead.

Sorry, but in this country, in this day and age, it's all a sham. The truly needy have no trouble finding enough help to keep the off the street corners. It's the ones that won't even pass that cursory level of scrutiny that wind up on the street corners. They laugh all the way to the bank, with their unreported income, and no pressure to actually work. Don't encourage them.

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Saw a guy near my parents house that needed shoes, had a size on the sign and all. Bought some plain white no-name sneakers at Costco and put them in the car so we could drop them off the next time I was in their neck of the woods. Was trying to show my 5 year old that we can do things for people that do not involve cash. Anyway found him one night on our way home and asked if he still needed shoes and he says yep that was him. Handed him the bag with the sneaks and some socks and he says something about how his sign said brown shoes and thanks anyway. Not really the impression I wanted my daughter to get about giving to those who are in need. Never again on the streets, we take robes and slippers to the womens shelter at Christmas hoping it makes a someones day a bit brighter.

You did a very nice thing for the shelter and taught your girl an even more important lesson about human beings.

The level of deceit and cruelty that people have is so much more than the most horrid alligator attack you can think of. Conversely the level of compassion that people have is far more than the love of a Lab. Such a strange and curious animal this human being...

I have certainly turned many a person down who was begging. Some of these kids in Seattle wearing a walkman and carrying a cell phone and are asking for money....pffffffttt! I've told more than one to F right off.

But I work in a soup kitchen every week, and I assure you that (most) of the folks going there to get food are NOT begging because they are lazy. Many old folks who can't work because of disability/health issues, folks with mental problems, people that are basically retarded...the list goes on and on.

I guess I shouldn't be making blanket statements about others either, and for that I am wrong.

But think twice before you blindly turn people away.

I wonder why more people who really need work don't stand on busy street corners handing out resumes.

I find most of the time I give them what they ask - they ain't happy with it. If at all possible - stay away from giving money!!! Keep it to items.

Its amazing how many "hungry" people will get insulted when brought food. :(

As far as I'm concerned if you are in such a terrible condition that you cannot work (disability) and/or too old (social security) then the government is there to give you money each month...and they do exactly that...each and every month they literally hand out money to certain candidates based on predetermined criterion. Now if the person is neither disable nor ripe enough for social security then the government has another program to give them money until they are back on their feet (unemployment). Essentially, if none of these programs are sufficient then there is something wrong but still not enough to warrant begging instead of working.

A friend of mine did this over in Redmond during the first .com crash.

Stood on an offramp near MS with a sign that said "Will write code for food" and handed resumes out to anyone that would roll down their window.

Had three interviews scheduled within the first 2 days, and ended up landing an MS job that he stayed in for years.

Paul, this is Florida-EVERYBODY needs a beer here!!!

city has no balls to do anything about them.

- they have a right to hang out on public property and engage in speech -- even if the speech is something you don't like

Public property - no problem.

Blocking traffic, running between cars, making the bleeding hearts stop and block the cars behind them while they fish for bills to give - big problem.

Private property - "Get the eff out of here and get a job, you bum."

"If you step away from me now, I won't have to pepper spray you," is my standard response to bums and beggars.

This is not a restriction on speech. Panhandling requires an intentional act...like asking for money on a public corner using your speech...

They're just hoping to get hit and then they'll be on the gravy train.

I worked at a youth center aimed at homeless street kids, drug addicts, etc. One of the ones that got his act together and got clean befriended me and told me all about the fine art of "flying a sign". He said he made a lot of money doing it and 99% of the "needy" are con artists.

When I'm approached by a "hungry person", I offer to bring them back some food to eat right then and there. If they decline then game over. Have had people ask for gas but when I offered to meet them at the gas station to put a couple gallons in they always have an excuse. I tell all the other hard luck stories that I'll be glad to give them the number to my church and my pastor will be glad to help them out after he checks out their situation (true). I had a guy say he needed just a few more bucks to buy a prescription for his daughter. I told him to hop in the car and I'll take him to the drug store and pay the store. Surprise, surprise, no deal. You can ask if they would like you to drive them to a place that needs workers where they can get paid at the end of the day. Most will say "no".

That said, a few months back an old guy (claiming to be a Vietnam Vet) approached me asking for money for food. I said "no" and walked away but I felt the Lord (just let me say it without making it an issue) saying he was legit. I told him I won't give money but I would buy him some food. He was all about it. I went to Wallyword, got some wholesome food and brought it back to him. He asked if I would give him a ride to the bus stop so he could bring it home. I think he was the 1 in 100. The sad part is the scam artists have a better rap and make more than the ones that are legit.

One of the scams here is two women holding out a collection can with a picture of a little girl and the words "Funeral Fund". I've seen the same two women across the San Fernando Valley doing this for months.

completely wrong - it is indeed speech -- so say the courts

a city (like the one I live in) CAN enact some restrictions on such speech, just as they can for political protests, or maybe more on point, for billboards (I'd say both billboards and requests for spare change are "commercial" speech, which gets less protection)

make a citizens arrest for fraud!