Our Moral Responsibility to Panhandlers

[rwoehmke]

I have a brother who does not to work. He chose the life of a drifter and perpetual unemployment. He was not forced into it. He was a ‘A’ student in school and has no significant mental disorder. He just hates authority so much and bought so deeply into the anarchist movement that he rejects the whole concept of working for a living.

I have personally seen him bring home over $2000 in just one day of pan-handling. What does he do with this tax-free money? Does he rent an apartment? Fix his car? By drugs or alcohol? Nope, he just spends it on miscellaneous junk and travel. He only “works” a couple of days a month, and spends the rest of the time living pretty high.

I love my brother, but this makes me so sad and disappointed that he scams people $5 at a time. And to say that it breaks the heart of my elderly parents doesn’t even begin to describe how they feel.

I would never give money to a pan-handler. Instead I give to my Parish-sponsored help for the poor through St. Vincent de Paul.

An investigation in MSP determined that many of the guys standing on the corners were not legitimate. Like the guy in this post. It is their job. Carry some samll cans with easy open lids of fruit and meat, maybe crackers in your brief case or bag. If they are truly hungry the will jump at it. On the other hand there was the guy who was handed a bag from McDonald.s. Observing in the rear view he was seen dumping it in the trash. Both here and in Europe it is a way to get drinks, drugs, and to make a living. The really indigent show up at the soup kitchens and shelters.