It can end up worse than that. In some developing countries like China, India, Latin America, there are gangs that mutilate people and then force them to go out begging.
If you give to street beggers you just increase demand for street beggers. Eventually you get to a level of demand where the gangs take an interest.
A lot of them aren't 100% lazy. Spending all day out in the sun on a median is about as rough as washing dishes. They go on the median because it pays more than washing dishes. So they really are working. The difference is one form of work does something. So all you're doing is paying someone to do a less productive job instead of a more productive job.
Back in the 1990s, when McDonald's had food certificates, I would give away $5 or $10 in gift certificates to McDonald's. That way, they couldn't buy drugs or booze. Some are pandhandlers that make $50K a year begging on the streets and live out of a car.
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At one time, a long time back. But I realized they just bought drugs and alcohol with money. I would occasionally buy them something to eat.
It can end up worse than that. In some developing countries like China, India, Latin America, there are gangs that mutilate people and then force them to go out begging.
If you give to street beggers you just increase demand for street beggers. Eventually you get to a level of demand where the gangs take an interest.
A lot of them aren't 100% lazy. Spending all day out in the sun on a median is about as rough as washing dishes. They go on the median because it pays more than washing dishes. So they really are working. The difference is one form of work does something. So all you're doing is paying someone to do a less productive job instead of a more productive job.
Back in the 1990s, when McDonald's had food certificates, I would give away $5 or $10 in gift certificates to McDonald's. That way, they couldn't buy drugs or booze. Some are pandhandlers that make $50K a year begging on the streets and live out of a car.