adroit sparkling old dude wishes no one resorts to it

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022285227

Oh my.

Stinky The Clown (49,538 posts)    Wed Jan 30, 2013, 05:25 PM

What about panhandling?

Should it be legal?

Should it be regulated?

Should it be restricted to certain "zones"?

Should it be legal but prohibited in traffic?

Are the volunteer fireman (for example) with buckets at a busy intersection doing an annual fundraiser any different from panhandlers?
 
I wish no one needed to resort to this, but that's not the reality. More and more jurisdictions are talking about banning or regulating their panhandlers.
 
What do you think about this issue?

Hmmm.

One's already figured out what inspired this, what happened.

The adroit sparkling old dude's trophy wife was perhaps accousted by a dirty smelly beggar at the market, and doesn't want to have to deal with such people.

aptal (120 posts)    Wed Jan 30, 2013, 05:28 PM

1. I think it should be legal, no restrictions.

You made a good point about the firemen. In this area we have High School teams and bands doing it in the middle of four way stops. Doesn't bother me, but I think all forms of panhandling should be legal.
 
Although it's sad that we even have to have panhandlers when we have people with millions of dollars just sitting in the bank.

madinmaryland (51,647 posts)    Wed Jan 30, 2013, 05:29 PM

2. I've seen a lot of panhandling in DC and NYC. Kind of goes with the territory.

I wish I could give to everyone that I see, but I just don't have enough money to. I wish we had more of a safety net here to help these people, give them a safe place to sleep and food to eat.
 
Rather we have more billionaires than you can shake a stick at.

The rabid terrapin primitive perhaps isn't aware that because of aggressive recruiting on the part of social security practitioners, and the magnanimity of Ronald Reagan and George Bush, many panhandlers, skid row bums, mission dwellers, whatnot, actually get social security disability checks every month.

The "safety net"'s there.

Only God knows what they do with the largesse, though.

MotherPetrie (915 posts)    Wed Jan 30, 2013, 06:19 PM

5. Legal, no restrictions.

Retrograde (3,259 posts)    Wed Jan 30, 2013, 06:51 PM

6. What about agressive panhandling?

Hanging out by ATMs and accosting customers? Following people? Blocking sidewalks? Using sob stories to extract money ("I need trainfare because it's my first day on the job and I can't be late!" from someone who tried to work the same platform several weeks in a row)?
 
Apropos of nothing in particular, my town has a regular panhandler who will not ask for money from women. He's been working his corner for over ten years, always polite, and always approaching just men.

[Randy]

I tell the Firefighters and their damn boot begging the same thing I tell the rest of the panhandlers in the middle of the street. Didn't your momma teach you not to play in the middle of the road? Followed by my window going up.

[Conservative Libertarian]

In Bloomington, IN, there are lots of people that panhandle with swigns saying "Will work for Food". People that take them up on their offer find out that once they have the meal, there is a long list of excuses why they can't perform any tasks to hold up their end of the deal. Most just want money for grugs and alcohol. In fact, A coworker of mine said that his 25 year old son proudly told him that he was now "Signing" as a means of making money. That's what they call it. He said that he had to kick his son out because, he was a grown man that refused to get help for his drug problem and that he had to think if what was best for his younger child.

[thundley4]

aptal (120 posts)    Wed Jan 30, 2013, 05:28 PM

1. I think it should be legal, no restrictions.

MotherPetrie (915 posts)    Wed Jan 30, 2013, 06:19 PM

5. Legal, no restrictions.

I hope some bums set up on these idiots front lawns.

[delilahmused]

Like this is the most important issue confronting us.

Cindie

[franksolich]

Like this is the most important issue confronting us.

Cindie

Well, it's pretty important, considering that since January 20, 2009, there seems to be more and more of them.

[jukin]

Her in one of the most affluent and liberal cities in America our downtown is infested with panhandlers and most of them are 20-25 years old. Welcome to a fundamentally changed 0bama America. It ain't going to get any better.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

If panhandling is still needed what the hell are we paying all these taxes for a so-called "just and fair society."

I pay taxes -- get the goddam bums off the street already.

[DumbAss Tanker]

In Bloomington, IN, there are lots of people that panhandle with swigns saying "Will work for Food". People that take them up on their offer find out that once they have the meal, there is a long list of excuses why they can't perform any tasks to hold up their end of the deal. Most just want money for grugs and alcohol. In fact, A coworker of mine said that his 25 year old son proudly told him that he was now "Signing" as a means of making money. That's what they call it. He said that he had to kick his son out because, he was a grown man that refused to get help for his drug problem and that he had to think if what was best for his younger child.

I grew up there and still have family around town.   There is indeed quite a sizable collection of burned-out, drug-addled hippie scum underfoot downtown.

[GOBUCKS]

When did we start calling winos and beggars "the homeless" and "panhandlers"?

Whose fault are they, Reagan or Bush?

[DumbAss Tanker]

When did we start calling winos and beggars "the homeless" and "panhandlers"?

Whose fault are they, Reagan or Bush?

Hey, there's plenty of blame to go around!  ...So that means both Reagan AND Bush!

 

[NHSparky]

Well, it's pretty important, considering that since January 20, 2009, there seems to be more and more of them.

The local Wally World sits off a fairly busy highway (4 lanes, 55 mph speed limit, but at a stoplight intersection) where on any given day, there are panhandlers on at least two of the medians (the one turning into WW and the one coming out of it.)  The other intersection goes to a small industrial park and car wash, so no money there.

A year ago, it was unheard of here to see people panhandling.  Now it's in multiple locations.

[RobJohnson]

We have a panhandler in my town with a professionaly made sign complete with vynil letters and an American flag!

Next they will have electronic marquees connected via bluetooth to their smart phones!

In Nevada aggressive panhandling is illegal. I often have to deal with intoxicated panhandlers at work. They usually take off after I warn them.

[Karin]

In this area we have High School teams and bands doing it in the middle of four way stops.

Whose brilliant freaking idea was that?  Gee, what could go wrong? 

I feel bad for the firemen mentioned.  They shouldn't have to do something so degrading.  Here, they raise money via mail campaign, and chicken barbecues.  Lots of them. 

[Conservative Libertarian]

I grew up there and still have family around town.   There is indeed quite a sizable collection of burned-out, drug-addled hippie scum underfoot downtown.

Monroe county is the one blue county in a sea of red counties. Those of us that live in neighboring counties refer to it as "The Communist Republik of Monroe County."

[Randy]

Next they will have electronic marquees connected via bluetooth to their smart phones!

You can laugh. We have an old run down flea market north of here that isn't as bustling az it used  to be. The back concession area isn't used much so the homeless bums come hang out there and recharge their smartphones at the outlets under the pavillion.

[thundley4]

The local Wally World sits off a fairly busy highway (4 lanes, 55 mph speed limit, but at a stoplight intersection) where on any given day, there are panhandlers on at least two of the medians (the one turning into WW and the one coming out of it.)  The other intersection goes to a small industrial park and car wash, so no money there.

A year ago, it was unheard of here to see people panhandling.  Now it's in multiple locations.

There was a guy near our Walmart with a sign about being a homeless vet.  He always had a couple of duffle bags and other junk piled around him.  The cops rousted him one time and he threw all of his stuff in an SUV and hasn't been seen since.

[Delmar]

When did we start calling winos and beggars "the homeless" and "panhandlers"?

Whose fault are they, Reagan or Bush?

When did we start calling the piss bums from down on skid row "winos" and "beggars"?

[Duke Nukum]

The DUmmie Underground is the playground of panhandlers.

Hell, Skinner is the King of the Panhandlers.

Mole trap.

[RobJohnson]

You can laugh. We have an old run down flea market north of here that isn't as bustling az it used  to be. The back concession area isn't used much so the homeless bums come hang out there and recharge their smartphones at the outlets under the pavillion.

I see large families picking up medication, all paid by Medicaid. Each adult and child with a smart phone in their ear or hand.

These are expensive medications that most private insurance companies won't pay for without a "prior authorization." It's no longer a shock to see one family pick up six or seven thousand dollars worth of pills that the taxpayers pay for.

[thundley4]

I see large families picking up medication, all paid by Medicaid. Each adult and child with a smart phone in their ear or hand.

These are expensive medications that most private insurance companies won't pay for without a "prior authorization." It's no longer a shock to see one family pick up six or seven thousand dollars worth of pills that the taxpayers pay for.

They sell them and pay for their bling and phones.

[BlueStateSaint]

They sell them and pay for their bling and phones.

Exactly.  Or their lawyers, when the cops get around to busting them.