panhandling

I get very agitated when people feel they are entitled to ANYTHING without working. thus, it follows that I get very annoyed with panhandlers. Some of my friends/family members may have heard my extended rant about panhandlers.

I cannot imagine what point you would have to get in your life in order to beg strangers for extra change. It is debasing and sad that someone would feel they have no other options but to stand and beg for petty cash. But maybe the worse thing is that they actually make money doing this! Yet, I continue to see the same people on the same corners day after day after day, and I wonder: where in the world are they spending money?

Anyone can get food for free: there are many religious organizations that offer food, homeless shelters, plus I have personally seen people bring food to people on the street. I have a hard time believing that anyone in America could go hungry with the abundance and excess that is so prominent in our society.

In any case, I don't think the true homeless people panhandle that much. All the documentaries I have seen regarding homelessness, it is usually drug addicts that beg for money. Since their lives are consumed by their drug habit, they will spend hours panhandling just to get enough to get by. I can't even begin to understand their situation, I've never dealt with addiction before, but at the same time I don't want to contribute to it. I will never give money to a random person on the street.

Salt Lake City Council is currently debating whether to tighten the panhandling restrictions, and give out citations for panhandlers. Obviously this is NOT the solution. How can you give fines to homeless people? They will just beg for more money! The problem has to stop with every citizen: stop throwing away your money and instead volunteer your time or finances to a Legitimate Non-Profit.

Links: CW Article

End Panhandling