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andreapalladio
Guest
Ah, Thatcherism lives.
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maxy505
Guest
What do you think 98% of honest panhandlers use the money for? (by honest, I mean the ones who don't have cars and houses)
Do they save up for rent? (hint: no)
Buy food? (rarely; free food isn't hard to come by in this city, but more importantly, there are ways besides food to get rid of the cravings)
Odds are you just bought the guy booze, crack or sometimes PCP. I hope you DON'T feel like you just helped a poor guy out.
Do they save up for rent? (hint: no)
Buy food? (rarely; free food isn't hard to come by in this city, but more importantly, there are ways besides food to get rid of the cravings)
Odds are you just bought the guy booze, crack or sometimes PCP. I hope you DON'T feel like you just helped a poor guy out.
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andreapalladio
Guest
I don't care. It's a gift. I use my money for whatever I want - I have no right to tell other people what to do with theirs.
Lots of people use their money for things I don't agree with. I don't believe in punishing the poor for being poor.
Lots of people use their money for things I don't agree with. I don't believe in punishing the poor for being poor.
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AlvinofDiaspar
Guest
maxy:
So, our solution is to "ban" pan-handling while addictions, mental health and housing options for these individuals remains underfunded.
I don't know about you, but this sounded like a cosmetic exercise to me.
AoD
So, our solution is to "ban" pan-handling while addictions, mental health and housing options for these individuals remains underfunded.
I don't know about you, but this sounded like a cosmetic exercise to me.
AoD
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boiler2000
Guest
We should attack the problem at the root: ban poverty.
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TdotTrickyRicky
Guest
I don't really buy the argument that states we need to tackle poverty and housing affordability to deal with panhandling. Such an argument actually does damage to the cause because it drains focus from the issue at hand. We become paralyzed on a whole segment of issues because various organizations insist on lumping them together when there is often the need to isolate specific policy issues.
I can't recall knowledge of anyone who was not panhandling on the street out of their own free will (regardless of if this free will was irrational and influenced by past abuse, substance abuse, mental illness etc.). I think that this is a key issue, panhandling and street people are less products of poverty and oppression in our society and more a reflection of the absolutism of individual freedom.
We definately need to address issues pertaining to poverty strengthen services and provide policy and tax incentives to lift people out of it, but these will not have any influence on the number of panhandlers and street people. Countries and cities that don't have panhandlers and street people don't because they don't allow it, we do.
I can't recall knowledge of anyone who was not panhandling on the street out of their own free will (regardless of if this free will was irrational and influenced by past abuse, substance abuse, mental illness etc.). I think that this is a key issue, panhandling and street people are less products of poverty and oppression in our society and more a reflection of the absolutism of individual freedom.
We definately need to address issues pertaining to poverty strengthen services and provide policy and tax incentives to lift people out of it, but these will not have any influence on the number of panhandlers and street people. Countries and cities that don't have panhandlers and street people don't because they don't allow it, we do.
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GregWTravels
Guest
Frankly, I would much prefer they ban those students with the binders for Sick Kids or Greenpeace. Those people are much more annoying than anyone sitting on the corner asking for change or selling a copy of the Outreach.
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building babel
Guest
I used to take the 506 College car to work. The professional beggars at Logan and Gerrard, who use the Beer Store as a staging post, became so pressing and persistent I finally switched to taking the 504 down Broadview. This was several years ago. A couple of days ago, out of interest, I took the 506 again. Fewer beggars, but now we've got a local ho in shiny black thigh high boots.
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nassauone
Guest
Odds are you just bought the guy booze, crack or sometimes PCP. I hope you DON'T feel like you just helped a poor guy out.
PCP? uhhhh, check the stats on that one PCP is RARE these days; it died with disco. Replaced by Crack and more recently Meth.
Regardless it is your choice who you give you money to or wether you give any at all. I would prefeer to give a junkie .50 than to have them break into my car or home for the money. (yes, people break into cars for that measly 50 cents left behind).
Treat the problem. More money for detoxs (Toronto just closed three that I know of) more treatment facilities, more outpatient resources.
I would also challenge you to actually talk to the person who is begging for once. Find out their story. 90% of the addicts out there will tell you they did not chose this lifestyle. They chose to do a drug which they thought they were immune to the effects of. Addiction works that way. Next thing they knew they lost their job. Their family. Their life. I am not saying free ride for everyone here but sometimes when you learn something about the problem instead of blanketing it with "Begger = Crack addict = Bad person = No need to help" it can change yours and their perception of the world.
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jordancerovic
Guest
"Wingnuts like Pitfield, Harper and that ilk need to make stupid people afraid of SOMETHING."
Interestingly enough, Harper was born in Pitfield's current riding. Coincidence?
Interestingly enough, Harper was born in Pitfield's current riding. Coincidence?
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tudararms
Guest
I rolled with laughter watching a "keener" (insert any appropriate forumer name here) approach a beggar at Yonge and Dundas with coffee and bag of timbits in hand, all full of his own noble self-satisfaction, only to be told to shove the donuts, give over some change and f*** off! Alas, seems sometimes only money is wanted, not help or heart.
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building babel
Guest
The street people I find the most bearable don't ask for anything, they just like talking to strangers. I'm a bit like that at parties, meeting new people, circulating, cruising, chattering, grazing ...
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andreapalladio
Guest
I can never tell anymore if someone is conversing with themsleves or one of their alternate personalities, or just jib jabbering on a cell phone. It's hard to know who's nuts and who's not nowadays.
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building babel
Guest
Especially for someone who hears voices inside their head that are louder than the bell they must strike every quarter of an hour.
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andreapalladio
Guest
Somethings got to drown out all that tintinnabulation.